Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis, recently released from WWE, spoke openly about the lasting impact of advice he received from Kofi Kingston and John Cena on his wrestling career. In his first interview since leaving WWE, Adonis emphasized how these lessons shaped his approach to performance and professionalism.
Embracing the Performer’s Role Beyond Wrestling
Adonis described himself as more than just an in-ring competitor, highlighting his identity as a performer and actor. He expressed a desire to have showcased that aspect better during his time in WWE but acknowledged that some decisions were beyond his control.
“I’m a performer. I’m a performer, I’m an actor, I know I’m supposed to be in front of the camera, and I really wish that I could have shown that more in WWE. But that is not up to me.” —Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis
Kofi Kingston’s Advice: Striving to Do More
One piece of advice from Kofi Kingston stood out to Adonis: the importance of always pushing to do more. He shared how this guidance, given a few WrestleManias ago, has been a constant motivation throughout his career.
“I’m just trying to do more, I’m always trying to do more, and that’s something Kofi Kingston told me, you know, a few Manias ago was like, ‘You gotta do more. You gotta do more, man,’ and that’s just what I’ve been telling myself. I have to do more, I have to do more, which I have been trying to do.” —Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis
John Cena’s Counsel on Focusing Controlled Efforts
Adonis also credited John Cena with advising him to concentrate on aspects within his power. Cena’s guidance helped Adonis focus on areas such as his physical condition and in-ring skills instead of factors like booking decisions.
“It’s something John Cena told me, ‘You gotta control the controllable,’ and that’s what I’ve been doing. I can’t control how I’m booked, I can’t control, you know, when they book me. I can control how I look.” —Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis
Maintaining Presentation and Attitude as a Priority
Adonis emphasized controlling his body, wrestling ability, speaking skills, and overall presentation. He recognized that attitude is also under personal control, a mindset he actively embraced during his WWE tenure.
“I can control my body, keep my body in shape, I can control how good I am in the ring, I can control how good I am at talking, I can control… presentation!… You definitely can control that (your attitude), which I have definitely done (he laughed).” —Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis
The Importance of Guidance Moving Forward
This shared wisdom from established WWE stars like Kingston and Cena offers insights into the professional mindset required to navigate the unpredictable world of professional wrestling. For Adonis, these principles have motivated him to continue honing his craft and maintaining a positive outlook despite challenges, suggesting a determined path ahead beyond WWE.
