A viral image, deceptively edited, led millions to believe WWE legend John Cena had met his doppelgänger. The man in the original photograph, however, was actually UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.
The Backstory: Cena in Perth
WWE superstar John Cena recently visited Perth, Australia, for the Crown Jewel event. During his time there, he faced off against AJ Styles in a highly anticipated match at the RAC Arena, ultimately securing a victory. Coincidentally, the RAC Arena had also hosted UFC Perth just a month prior.
It was in this same venue that Cena had the opportunity to meet and interact with the rising Australian welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena, backstage. The two posed for a photo, which subsequently became the subject of a widespread digital hoax.
The Viral AI Edit Explained
The authentic image of John Cena and Jack Della Maddalena was initially posted by the official UFC Australia and New Zealand Instagram page. However, fans quickly took to editing the photo, digitally altering it to show two identical versions of John Cena, thereby propagating the claim that he had encountered a famous online lookalike.
One notable instance involved an X (formerly Twitter) user who shared the manipulated photo, captioning it: “John Cena with his lookalike backstage last night.” This edited picture replaced Della Maddalena with a second depiction of Cena, with AI technology used to remove his hat, making the two figures appear indistinguishable.
Public Reaction and Revelation
The fabricated tweet rapidly garnered over 4 million views, with a significant number of commenters falling for the illusion. Humorous remarks abounded, such as one fan joking, “When the John Cena look alike looks more like John Cena then John Cena himself.” Other reactions included comments like, “Imagine being able to call in the clone instead of sick,” and even expressions of the image being “scary.” Ultimately, the deception was clarified by Community Notes and several astute viewers who shared the original, unedited photograph.
What`s Next for the Athletes
Both John Cena and Jack Della Maddalena are set for important upcoming events. The Australian UFC champion is currently preparing for his first welterweight title defense against Islam Makhachev, scheduled to take place at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden. A few days later, John Cena is slated to make one of his final four appearances at the same venue before his retirement from WWE.
