Austin Principle Says He is Not Attempting To Be Subsequent John Cena, ‘Do not Need To Be A Rip-Off’

Austin Principle is combating his childhood idol, John Cena, on “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” WrestleMania, however the present WWE United States Champion desires everybody to know he isn’t attempting to be a Cena 2.0 — telling TMZ Sports activities, “I do not wish to be a rip-off.”

We spoke with Principle forward of his highly-anticipated match with Cena for the U.S. title at ‘Mania … and he put into perspective what the second means to him contemplating John performed a job in his want to be an expert wrestler.

“Being eight years previous and understanding what I wished to do for the remainder of my life due to John Cena and that’s be a WWE Celebrity. That was the primary time I seen wrestling and I used to be impressed. And I went straight to the TV and I might watch John each single week.”

Principle and Cena made their match for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania official two weeks in the past … throughout an intense phase the place the latter reminded the WWE Universe that he can nonetheless minimize a promo with the perfect of them.

“We did have a second,” Principle mentioned about his encounter with Cena. “A face-to-face on Monday Evening Uncooked. He had quite a lot of issues to say to me. In that second, it’s extremely cool to be on the market with John Cena however I am in a distinct place now.”

Austin advised us he is bored with individuals always evaluating him to Cena — a 13-time WWE Champion, widely known because the G.O.A.T. within the promotion’s historical past — particularly after he is labored so laborious alongside his journey to determine his personal identification.

“I do not wish to hear that anymore,” Principle mentioned. “I wish to be the primary Austin Principle and I need individuals to see that. I do not wish to be a rip-off of anyone and at WrestleMania, I will present everyone simply how completely different Austin Principle is.”

“My mindset going into this match is all about me,” Principle mentioned. “I can not go in there and get swallowed by this large John Cena story. I do know the group’s going to be loopy for him. ‘Let’s Go Cena’ and ‘Cena sucks.’ Even the individuals saying ‘Cena Sucks,’ they love him, too.”