Former WWE Star Rob Conway Recalls Training With John Cena In OVW

John Cena is the most popular wrestler to ever step out of OVW, with a long list of accolades to his name. On his way up to the top, Cena inspired many, like Rob Conway, who still fondly recalls working with him in WWE's former developmental promotion, Ohio Valley Wrestling. In an interview on "Insight with Chris Van Vliet," Conway recalled his early days in OVW, praising Cena while also sharing his belief that fans never got to see the full potential of his promo work. 

"He was the first one at practice, and the last one to leave," Conway recalled. "Not the most talented athlete, by far the most talented promo guy I've ever seen."

Conway pointed out how Cena was a babyface for majority of his WWE run, while in OVW he was a heel the entire time. According to Conway, he was with Cena the night he got the news that he'd be called up for his "WWE SmackDown" debut in 2002, where his look was drastically changed from his run as "The Prototype" in OVW. 

"I had to give him the rental car keys so he'd get his hair cut," Conway recalled. He further claimed that Cena had no idea he was set to wrestle Angle that night, and even pulled out several moves he'd never done before that night. "Heels don't do those moves. ... As Prototype, he wrestled a lot bigger than he did as John Cena, because as John Cena he had to sell. As a heel you're pretty indestructible when you look like him."

Following his time in OVW, Conway made it to WWE's main roster as a member of La Résistance alongside Sylvain Grenier and René Duprée. He later departed the company in 2007.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet," and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.