Former WWE star Velveteen Dream, whose real name is Patrick Clark Jr., has disclosed that he maintains a personal connection with John Cena, the 17-time World Champion. Dream revealed that he spoke with Cena just three months ago, highlighting an ongoing professional relationship grounded in mutual respect. This revelation comes amid Cena’s well-known reputation for mentoring and supporting younger wrestlers at WWE’s Performance Center.
Cena has often expressed his commitment to aiding emerging talents in the wrestling world. Omos, another WWE talent, noted that Cena frequently visits the Performance Center to give guidance to new stars. Velveteen Dream’s recent comments shed light on how Cena extends his support not only to current WWE wrestlers but also to former performers who seek advice or mentorship.
Reflecting on Cena’s Praise from ComicCon 2018
The subject of Cena’s praise surfaced during an episode of the podcast Limpin Aint Easy w/ Timmy Baltimore, where Velveteen Dream was asked about Cena’s 2018 ComicCon compliment. At that event, John Cena compared Dream to a promising Jedi, signaling belief in his potential within the wrestling world. While acknowledging the significance of that statement, Dream provided a complex, introspective response that balanced gratitude with realism.
“[Timmy]: At ComicCon in 2018, John Cena said when asked, who do you want to work with in the future? [Velveteen Dream]: Yeah, he did a lot. [Timmy]: He said, ‘You know how in the Star Wars movies, the old Jedi can look at the rookie Jedis and be like, I think that’s the one. I kind of have a weird odd metaclorian Star Wars lingo feeling about Velveteen Dream. I think there’s something special there.’ There’s no way you didn’t hear that. What did that do for you? [Dream]: Hey, I tell people all the time, I didn’t lose my job because I sucked. Okay, let’s be very clear of that. I did not lose my job because I was not good at it.”
—Velveteen Dream, Former WWE Star
Dream clarified that despite Cena’s high praise, he did not allow it to inflate his ego or expectations. Instead, he viewed the compliment as professional respect rather than a guarantee of future opportunities within WWE. This perspective reflects a realistic understanding of how the wrestling business operates beyond individual accolades.
Maintaining Professionalism in the Wrestling Industry
Velveteen Dream emphasized the importance of approaching interactions with established wrestlers with professionalism rather than fandom, a lesson he learned early in his career. He shared advice from Sunny Boy, recounting a moment when X-Pac cautioned against treating veterans merely as celebrities to admire. Instead, Dream learned to engage as a colleague, maintaining respect and professionalism to foster long-term working relationships.
“I was taught early on, Sunny Boy, he said we had a show for MCW where X-Pac came and he said, you know, smarten me up on a ride to the show. He said, whatever you do, do not ask X-Pac for a picture. Just be a person. He said because one day he could be your coworker and he could be working with you and you don’t want his memory of you to be, you know, you being a fan, not being a professional.”
—Velveteen Dream, Former WWE Star
This approach highlights the blurred lines between personal admiration and the realities of professional wrestling, where respect and collaboration are essential to career longevity.
Insight into Recent Conversations Between Dream and Cena
Addressing the notion that Cena’s 2018 comment could have propelled him into a leading role within WWE’s NXT brand, Dream conveyed his grounded view, explaining that wrestling storylines are subject to many influences beyond individual endorsements. He acknowledged having Cena’s phone number and having recently reached out to discuss wrestling-related matters, underscoring the genuine nature of their connection.
“I know John Cena personally. I have John Cena’s number in my phone. True. Like if I last time I reached out to John Cena was maybe three months ago. We talked about something wrestling-related. But like he’s a person to me. I know him as a professional. You know, I was taught by the best.”
—Velveteen Dream, Former WWE Star
Dream insisted that it would be unrealistic to assume that Cena’s casual compliment would cause WWE’s creative team to drastically alter storylines or bookings. He noted that Vince McMahon, WWE’s chairman, plays the central role in such decisions, making it clear that individual praise does not translate into automatic career boosts.
Understanding Wrestling’s Bigger Picture Beyond Individual Roles
Velveteen Dream shared a candid perspective on the wrestling industry’s scope, cautioning against inflated egos or delusions of stardom that often come with fan fantasies. He emphasized that professional wrestling has evolved beyond singular main characters, urging wrestlers to remain realistic about their roles and contributions within the larger framework of the business.
“To have John Cena’s comment hold so much weight that the creative writing team and these writers who get paid all this money are going to pivot these storylines that they have on TV. Especially when Vince McMahon is sitting in the chair, you know, he’s going to do all this pivoting just so you know he can satisfy a compliment and the ego of you know Patrick, and that’s to me, that’s not how I see things because then you become delusional. You have to understand that wrestling is bigger than you. Like you are not, there are no main characters in professional wrestling, not anymore.”
—Velveteen Dream, Former WWE Star
His remarks underline the often harsh realities behind the scenes of wrestling entertainment, where storylines and character pushes often respond to complex creative and business decisions rather than individual opinions.
The Significance of This Relationship in the Wrestling World
Velveteen Dream’s revelation about his recent interaction with John Cena offers unique insight into the continued mentorship and professional regard Cena extends beyond the bright lights of the ring. Despite Dream’s departure from WWE, Cena’s willingness to engage shows his dedication to the wrestling community as a whole.
This personal conversation update featuring John Cena underscores how established stars can influence and support their peers, regardless of current company status. For Dream, this connection appears to be a source of professional validation and guidance rather than entitlement, reflecting a mature understanding of his place in the industry.
As WWE continues to evolve, the relationships between veteran wrestlers like Cena and former talents like Velveteen Dream may provide mentorship and counsel that shape the careers of future stars, reinforcing the importance of experience and professionalism within the wrestling world.
