John Cena keeps reminding us that he’s high on The Velveteen Dream

John Cena had harsh words for The Fiend on the most recent episode of WWE SmackDown, but he also had kind words for the next generation of talent in NXT, including The Velveteen Dream.

Now in the late stage of his professional wrestling career, 16-time world champion John Cena has his eyes on the future of WWE. Lately, he’s been doing whatever he can to put over the next generation of talent. He ate a pin from Finn Balor last year, put over Becky Lynch in a segment, and seems ready to boost Bray Wyatt like never before at WrestleMania 36.

Cena and Wyatt engaged in an epic promo on the most recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown, and they didn’t need any fans to make an impact with their words.

But what I also found interesting about the barbs Cena sent toward Wyatt was that he couched it with praise for true up-and-coming stars.

Here’s what he said at one point on SmackDown:

"“WWE needs to invest in its future. In my opinion, Bray Wyatt is not that future. Names like McIntyre, Ciampa, Riddle, Ripley, Velveteen Dream. Invest in those names.”"

The Face That Runs The Place used those names to reason that someone like Wyatt shouldn’t get so many chances to be a big star, because those chances come at the expense of all the other names chomping at the bit. It’s a valid point, even if the tea leaves say Cena will end up putting over Wyatt. (As he should.)

I loved that Cena mentioned The Velveteen Dream in there and mentioned him last. Because when you mention someone last on a list of names in a promo, they are the last name you hear in your ears. And maybe I read too much into these things, but it seemed like there was extra emphasis in the way Cena spoke the Dream’s name.

The two wrestlers, of course, have never met in the ring to this point. However, Cena put over Dream in a major way two years ago, stating that The Dream could be “The One” to truly take over for him when his time is done.

When you watch The Dream perform on NXT, it’s easy to say why Cena would say this. Nobody in WWE has more upside than The Dream, who seems destined for an NXT Title triumph over Adam Cole, who, to this point, has been the brand’s best and longest-running men’s champion. So if The Dream beats him, that entrenches him as NXT’s new top star.

It’s a spot that belongs to The Dream, and the “top star” spot is one he’ll one day claim on Raw or SmackDown in a few years. John Cena knows the potential The Dream has, and, to be honest with you, The Dream has transcended “potential”. He’s already arrived and will take NXT to new heights.