Austin Concept is preventing his childhood idol, John Cena, on “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” WrestleMania, however the present WWE United States Champion needs everybody to know he isn’t making an attempt to be a Cena 2.0 — telling TMZ Sports activities, “I do not need to be a rip-off.”

We spoke with Concept forward of his highly-anticipated match with Cena for the U.S. title at ‘Mania … and he put into perspective what the second means to him contemplating John performed a job in his need to be an expert wrestler.

“Being eight years previous and realizing what I wished to do for the remainder of my life due to John Cena and that’s be a WWE Famous person. That was the primary time I seen wrestling and I used to be impressed. And I went straight to the TV and I might watch John each single week.”

Concept and Cena made their match for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania official two weeks in the past … throughout an intense phase the place the latter reminded the WWE Universe that he can nonetheless reduce a promo with the most effective of them.

“We did have a second,” Concept mentioned about his encounter with Cena. “A face-to-face on Monday Evening Uncooked. He had numerous issues to say to me. In that second, it is very cool to be on the market with John Cena however I am in a unique place now.”

Austin informed us he is bored with individuals continuously evaluating him to Cena — a 13-time WWE Champion, well known because the G.O.A.T. within the promotion’s historical past — particularly after he is labored so laborious alongside his journey to determine his personal id.

“I do not need to hear that anymore,” Concept mentioned. “I need to be the primary Austin Concept and I need individuals to see that. I do not need to be a rip-off of anyone and at WrestleMania, I will present everyone simply how completely different Austin Concept is.”

“My mindset going into this match is all about me,” Concept mentioned. “I can not go in there and get swallowed by this large John Cena story. I do know the gang’s going to be loopy for him. ‘Let’s Go Cena’ and ‘Cena sucks.’ Even the individuals saying ‘Cena Sucks,’ they love him, too.”