Raquel Rodriguez has reflected on the surreal path that took her from being a young John Cena fan in South Texas to delivering a Tejana Bomb to the WWE icon during one of the biggest moments of her career.
At WWE Survivor Series, Rodriguez played a decisive role as The Judgment Day helped Dominik Mysterio defeat Cena for the WWE United States Championship. The group’s interference changed the complexion of the match, and Rodriguez created the most striking visual of the sequence when she picked Cena up and drove him to the mat with her Tejana Bomb.
For Rodriguez, it was not simply a memorable spot on a Premium Live Event. It represented the culmination of a long personal connection to Cena’s WWE career, beginning when she saw him perform live as a teenager and became one of the many fans drawn to his larger-than-life presence.
Speaking on Insight, Rodriguez recalled first watching Cena during her high school years and having what she described as a crush on the future WWE legend. She remembered buying Cena merchandise, including the familiar inflatable “You Can’t See Me” hand, and being especially excited by stories that he had stopped at Whataburger near her home region.
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“Oh man, I think it started back in high school when I saw John Cena live and I developed a crush for him. Then I was like, I bought the inflatable hands. You guys remember the can’t see me hand with the movable fingers. Yeah, I definitely bought that. I remember hearing because I am from the border, which is a very small town. So I remember hearing he went to Whataburger down in Hidalgo, and I was like, he loves Whataburger too. Oh my God, he’s the best.”
From Cena fan to Cena opponent
Rodriguez’s early fandom ultimately developed into a deeper appreciation for the work Cena did throughout his historic WWE run. As she progressed from spectator to performer, she said she began to understand his approach, his body of work, and the remarkable trajectory that made him one of the defining stars in company history.
That perspective made the Survivor Series encounter even more meaningful. Rodriguez was not merely standing across the ring from someone she once watched. As a member of The Judgment Day, she was placed directly into a major storyline involving Cena and Dominik Mysterio, with a championship at stake and a major PLE audience watching.
The moment was particularly significant because it gave Rodriguez an opportunity to interact with Cena in a high-pressure setting while also learning from him behind the scenes. She described retaining vivid memories from her time around him, including the chance to hear his thoughts and benefit from his experience.
“But then I started to really grow and learn from John Cena and see how he worked and his amazing trajectory with WWE and everything that he was able to accomplish, and then being put in the Judgment Day, and suddenly getting this moment of getting to be in a storyline with him and Dominik, and having an actual moment on a PLE with John Cena, all of that was just very, very mind-blowing.”
Rodriguez said it can be difficult to revisit such a major night and take in every detail at once. Still, the Tejana Bomb itself has clearly remained a standout memory. The power move allowed her to physically impose herself on one of WWE’s most recognizable figures, a moment she viewed as both exciting and deeply personal.
“It’s crazy to like try and look back to that day and remember every single moment, but I do remember every single moment I had with him, from getting to learn under his wing, from getting to hear his thoughts, and even getting to pick him up in a Tejana bomb and slap him down-that was so cool! Oh my gosh, it was so full circle for me, and I was just very, very grateful that I got to be in that situation.”
The Judgment Day changes the United States Title picture
Survivor Series provided the setting for Dominik Mysterio’s United States Championship victory over Cena, and The Judgment Day’s involvement was central to the result. Rodriguez’s Tejana Bomb was a major part of the interference that helped clear the way for Mysterio to leave with the title.
For Mysterio, the victory added another championship achievement to his résumé and gave The Judgment Day another reason to celebrate. For Rodriguez, it also demonstrated the value of her presence within the group. Her size, strength, and ability to change a match with a single move have regularly made her a difficult obstacle for opponents, and she brought that same impact into the clash with Cena.
The image of Rodriguez lifting Cena carried its own significance beyond the match result. Cena has spent decades as a powerhouse presence in WWE, competing against and overcoming some of the industry’s biggest names. Rodriguez being able to hoist him for her signature move made an immediate impression on the crowd and became a talking point after the event.
It also underscored the unusual nature of the storyline. Cena’s aura ensures that any wrestler who gets a meaningful physical moment with him is likely to receive added attention. Rodriguez did not just appear at ringside or take part in a brief confrontation; she delivered a decisive, memorable move during a championship-changing sequence.
Rodriguez has embraced the reaction
The response did not end when Survivor Series went off the air. Rodriguez said fans continued bringing up the moment in the days that followed, including when she returned home. The reaction has also followed her to meet-and-greet appearances, where she has happily reminded Cena supporters that she once slammed their favorite wrestler.
“It was amazing. Even when I came home, the crowd reaction the next day and the day after that, everyone was like, ‘You picked up John Cena!’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And I don’t let people forget. People who come to my meet-and-greets wearing his shirts, I remind them. I’m like, ‘Hey, you know I slammed that guy. I picked him up and I threw him right down.’”
That lighthearted pride fits the nature of Rodriguez’s reflection. She remains appreciative of Cena and the influence he had on her as a fan, but she also recognizes the importance of claiming a major moment of her own. The Tejana Bomb at Survivor Series was an example of Rodriguez making an impact on a stage where the attention was naturally enormous.
There is also a distinctly regional element to her story. Rodriguez spoke about coming from the border and growing up in a small-town environment where even hearing that Cena had visited a nearby Whataburger felt notable. Years later, she is no longer just the fan hearing a story about a WWE superstar passing through the area. She is a WWE champion who has shared the spotlight with that same superstar on a Premium Live Event.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship remains Rodriguez’s focus
Rodriguez heads into the next stage of her WWE run as the reigning WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. She has held the title for 99 days and has recorded one championship defense during that reign.
While the Cena moment at Survivor Series stands as a career milestone, Rodriguez’s present responsibilities center on maintaining her place at the top of the Women’s Intercontinental division. A championship reign is defined by the challengers a titleholder faces and the defenses they are able to survive, and Rodriguez has the physical tools to remain a formidable champion as more contenders look toward her title.
Rodriguez was in action on Monday’s WWE Raw, while Cena was also present on the show. Their Survivor Series connection remains an unforgettable chapter in Rodriguez’s career, particularly because of the personal history she brought into it. The former Cena fan got to stand alongside The Judgment Day, help Dominik Mysterio capture the United States Championship, and deliver a Tejana Bomb to one of WWE’s most accomplished stars.
For Rodriguez, that combination of gratitude, confidence, and disbelief is what makes the moment endure. She learned from Cena’s example, entered a major program with him, and then got the chance to create an image she is more than happy to remind fans about: Raquel Rodriguez picking up John Cena and throwing him down.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.