F9: John Cena declares himself the greatest Fast & Furious adversary

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

John Cena is already doing some big boasting before he makes his debut as Dominic Toretto's (Vin Diesel) brother in Fast & Furious 9. During a recent chat with "Collider", Cena says that his character Jakob will be the greatest adversary Dom has ever faced.

Dom has faced off against a number of villains across the franchise and arguably, at least from what we have already seen, Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), are currently the villains with the most fanfare for giving the Fast family the most trouble. Deckard Shaw was seemingly turned into a good guy in Furious 7 which carried over to the spinoff Hobbs & Shaw so that leaves room for someone to take his spot. Cena seems to think that his character is the person to do just that:

"I certainly didn't overlook the responsibility of the opportunity. I get to reap the rewards of this family who has poured the foundation and built the structure of a global delivering blockbuster. I get invited into the ninth installment to share the last name Toretto and to be Dom's greatest adversary of all time. That is not lost. I think it has to start there. It has to start with respect. It goes back to what Justin says about earning your next chapter. I believe that's a nice metaphor for life, as well. Everything we get should be earned. I was grateful enough to develop a relationship with Vin, and Vin was gracious enough to give me a chance. I forever thank him, and I always do, for betting on me."

The familial connection between the characters does add a layer of depth that the franchise hasn't really explored just yet. I know we don't go into these films seeking depth but having that connection between Dom and Jakob likely raises the stakes a bit.  The character is described as a master thief, assassin, and high-performance driver, who can stand alone against Dom and the rest of the Fast family. Some of these skills and escalated tension have been revealed in the trailers released for the film, as well as the fact that he's enlisted by Cipher (Charlize Theron) to destroy everything that means something to Dom. Cena goes on to explain that his past wrestling experience made him understand that he needed to prove his worth in order to be truly accepted as a part of the Fast & Furious family:

"I remember telling [Diesel] a long time ago that I wouldn't let him down because I love the body of work that's been established and it's an honor. I knew what it's like, in my experiences in the WWE, to be the new kid in the locker room. I also knew what it's like in the WWE to be the 15-year vet, when I look at the new kid in the locker room like, "Who the hell is this?" You always want to make sure someone's intentions are genuine and their passion is true. Regardless of how many installments of the franchise you've been involved with, I believe if the heart is there, you get to experience that welcoming family environment. I experienced it firsthand onset and after the workday was done. It's memories that I'll remember forever. It's a very wonderful experience."

In Fast & Furious 9, "Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena)."

Do YOU think John Cena will be the greatest Fast & Furious adversary? Fast & Furious 9 hits screens on June 25, 2021.