Tension builds between John Cena and Logan Paul ahead of Money in the Bank

Time of India

2 days ago

Image via WWE
The upcoming Money in the Bank event on June 7 is already stirring excitement, but behind the scenes on WWE SmackDown, tensions between WWE Champion John Cena and his tag team partner Logan Paul have started to show.
The duo is set to team up against Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso in what promises to be a high-stakes tag team match. However, their alliance seems far from smooth, as recent SmackDown episodes have revealed moments of disagreement and frustration between the two.
SmackDown Showdown Reveals Early Signs of Discord
On the May 30 episode of SmackDown, the segment opened with Rhodes and Uso standing in the ring, only to be interrupted by Cena, who quickly brought out Paul to join him.
Cena spoke highly of Paul, praising him for 'doing WWE better than any professional wrestler.' This endorsement, however, did not prevent a clash of opinions soon after.
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The tension arose when Uso challenged Cena and Paul to an immediate brawl. Cena appeared reluctant to engage, preferring to walk away, but Paul insisted on accepting the challenge. This disagreement between Cena and Paul led to a brief but noticeable argument, highlighting cracks in their partnership.
The verbal sparring quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, but it was Rhodes and Uso who gained the upper hand. They landed their signature Co-D combo, Cody Cutter and 1D - and ended the show with Rhodes holding Cena's WWE Championship belt aloft, a symbolic moment that hinted at Cena's frustration.
Verbal Exchanges and Fan Reactions Add to the Drama
The bitterness between Cena and Paul was further underscored earlier in the show when Cena called out Rhodes and Uso as 'wannabes' and labeled them 'John Cena wannabes.'
He also defended Paul, calling him a 'self-made man' and suggesting that Paul didn't need to pay his dues like others. Paul followed this up with verbal attacks on Uso and Rhodes, claiming he nearly won the World Heavyweight Championship on his own.
However, the differences between Cena and Paul became more evident when Paul pushed Cena to join a brawl he seemed hesitant to enter. Cena's reluctance contrasted with Paul's eagerness to fight, leaving fans wondering how well this tag team can function.
Fans on social media have noticed the tension as well. A tweet from Wrestle Ops highlighted that 'Cena and Paul's alliance has only begun and there's already tension.' Fans have expressed mixed feelings about the partnership, with some doubting Paul's role and others questioning Cena's current direction.
With only one more SmackDown episode before Money in the Bank, all eyes will be on Cena and Paul's relationship as the countdown begins for their high-profile match. Whether they can put aside their differences or if this internal conflict will cost them the match remains to be seen.