By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE top star John Cena offered several interesting nuggets during an interview on the Soscia Network with Brian Soscia of Mix 106.1 FM in Philadelphia prior to Monday's Raw TV taping. The following are highlights.

-- Cena said his dream Legends match - other than facing The Rock at WrestleMania next Sunday - is facing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin if Austin has one more match in him. Soscia brought up that C.M. Punk also wants a match with Austin, and Cena said he's aware of the competition to face Austin.

"If there was one more, it would be Steve Austin," Cena said. "Steve's had health issues in the past, but I've seen him recently. He's in great shape...I think Steve has one more great match in him, and, if he decides, I hope I'm the one on the other side of the ring."

-- Cena strongly endorsed FCW developmental wrestler Seth Rollins (Tyler Black on the independents) after watching him wrestle a dark match earlier this month.

"I just saw Seth Rollins have a dark match in Cleveland - I've heard a lot about him - not a guy I really followed in FCW, but, man, was I impressed with his dark match. I thought he did unbelievable."

-- Cena noted Zack Ryder has "fallen off the face of the earth" after a strong run at the end of 2011. He also said Dolph Ziggler is under-utilized right now. Cena specifically endorsed Cody Rhodes and went back to Rhodes's memorable Hall of Fame speech for Dusty Rhodes in 2007.

Cena acknowledged WWE is in a talent transition at this point, and it's just him and Randy Orton left from the group of wrestlers who started ten years ago when WWE came out of the peak of the Attitude Era.

-- Cena said he's been proactive trying to get the WWE Title belt changed, but the case has been made to him that the replica spinner belt has been WWE's top merchandise seller.

"It needs to change. It has been the way it's been for years now. It had its run," Cena said about the belt. "We need a re-hash. I'm proactively trying to do that...but I only got so much stroke, guys."

-- Cena noted Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, and the Road Warriors inspired him as a kid. Growing into the business, though, he studied Dick Murdoch, Harley Race, and a pre-WWE Ted DiBiase.

Cena also name-dropped Gorgeous George, on-the-outs Bruno Sammartino, and Bob Backlund as the legendary wrestlers people still bring up when they say "I remember when..." seeing wrestling in the past.



Video URL: http://youtu.be/Npyj0HzICuE

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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