A former WWE champion has claimed that record-breaking former world champions Randy Orton and John Cena got them fired from the company.
Former WWE United States Champion Ken Anderson has claimed that Randy Orton and John Cena played a role in his departure from the company, while also accepting responsibility for how his WWE run ultimately ended.
Appearing on Tagging In with Chris Harris, the former Mr. Kennedy reflected on the events surrounding his 2009 WWE release, which followed a controversial match with Orton shortly after Anderson returned from injury.
The incident has been debated by wrestling fans for years, with criticism focused on a spot during the match that reportedly angered Orton. Anderson pushed back against the long-standing belief that he dropped Orton on his head.
“I got fired for dumping Randy on his head,” Anderson said. “If you slow that video down, you can see that his neck never comes into contact with the mat.”
Anderson then made a bold claim regarding what he believes happened behind the scenes.
“I believe that Randy and John worked together. They decided that day, ‘Let’s get him gone.’ And it worked.”
Despite those comments, Anderson acknowledged that the situation was not solely the result of a single match or incident.
“I’ve said this before, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he explained. “But the reason I got fired is because of me.”
The former United States Champion also claimed that his relationship with Cena was strained throughout much of his WWE career.
“I felt like John had it out for me from almost day one,” Anderson said, adding that Cena “never liked” him.
Ken Anderson Believes He Was Ultimately The Reason He Got Fired By WWE
Looking back, Ken Anderson suggested there were wider issues at play beyond the controversial match with Randy Orton. While he believes Orton and John Cena may have influenced events, he ultimately accepts that his own actions and reputation contributed to WWE’s decision.
More than 15 years after his release, the circumstances surrounding Anderson’s WWE exit remain one of the most talked-about stories of his career.
