John Cena is no doubt among the coolest and most popular WWE characters of all time, and that is the very reason why when people are hearing about this latest John Cena Lawsuit, they’re finding themself in a confused state. Actually, this lawsuit is about the song that used to be played at his entry in the WWE, and it turns out (or as per the claims made in this lawsuit) it had some copyrighted parts. So, let’s see the full story in action, and what is really going on in this case.
The Story Behind “The Time Is Now”
Well, you’re a WWE and John Cena fan, then no doubt, you should get to know why there is this much controversy going on with this song that used to play at John Cena’s entry in the WWE. For that, it is better if we get to know how the Time Is Now song was created in the first place.
It would be more appropriate to step back a little before inspecting the court case, you know? So, here is the thing: the very first time we heard Cena’s theme song on WWE TV was in 2005. And the fact that he even raps on it himself is what made the song grab attention immediately. Right? Like, it didn’t take long for it to be the one with which he was recognized, and fans still sing it whenever he appears.
But do you know what is the controversial part in that song? Oh, that is the horns being played at the very beginning of the song. Heard them? Those are kinda iconic, but turns out, it’s possible that those horns came from a recording made a very long time ago, like, way before WWE changed it to the anthem that is most familiar to the fans nowadays.
Who’s Suing Cena and WWE?
Talking specifically about the details of this case, see, the lawsuit is initiated by Kim Schofield, the daughter of the late Canadian bandleader Pete Schofield. Her father made a funky instrumental recording of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” in 1974. And from what I gather, he inserted original horn parts into his version.
Kim claims that those exact horns, you know, the ones her dad made, were sampled and used in Cena’s theme without any kind of permission. And her family didn’t know it for years. They only found out in 2015 when a reporter reached out to them. Can you imagine finding out that your father’s music was used in a major WWE theme song through a random call? That’s how they came to know!
The 2025 Lawsuit: Round Two Begins
Fast forward to December 2025, and Kim Schofield returns with a brand-new lawsuit. What now? Well, she is suing John Cena, WWE, TKO, producer Jacob “Jake One” Dutton, and music publishers related to the original song.
Her primary allegation? That the theme of Cena is using the horn parts of her dad’s original recording without giving proper credit or obtaining permission. She also claims that WWE violated the 2017 agreement by releasing a 2019 remix called “The Camp Is Here,” which used those same horns again. In her words, it was not allowed under the original settlement.
Now she is demanding that the court should order her more than $150,000 and that the old agreement be completely canceled.
And just so you know, by the beginning of December 2025, there had been no official response from Cena, WWE, or TKO to the lawsuit. According to court rules, they must answer within 21 days from the day they are served or within 60 days if they ask for additional time.
