John Cena

John Cena
Cena as Peacemaker during a panel at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.

(1977-04-23) April 23, 1977 (age 49)
West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSpringfield College (BA)
Occupations
Years active1999–2025 (wrestler)
2004–2005; 2014 (rapper)
2006–present (actor)
Spouse(s)
Elizabeth Huberdeau
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2012)​

Shay Shariatzadeh
​
​
(m. 2020)​
Relatives
Ring name(s)John Cena
The Prototype
Mr. P
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight251 lb (114 kg)
Billed from"Classified"
West Newbury, Massachusetts
Los Angeles, California
Trained byChristopher Daniels
Mike Bell
Tom Howard
Dave Finlay
DebutNovember 5, 1999
RetiredDecember 13, 2025

John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (born April 23, 1977) is an American actor, retired professional wrestler, and former rapper. He is currently signed to WWE as a brand ambassador. During his in-ring career, Cena was a 17-time world champion, having won the WWE Championship a record 14 times and the World Heavyweight Championship three-times. He also held the United States Championship five times, the Intercontinental Championship once, and both the WWE and World Tag Team Championship twice. Also, Cena won the Royal Rumble in 2008 and 2013. As for his musical career, Cena has released an album called You Can't See Me. Cena has also been featured in the movies The Marine, 12 Rounds and Legendary. He starred as Peacemaker in the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad and his own television series for HBO Max. He is also known for his appearances in F9 and Heads Of State. His most famous catchphrase is "You Can't See Me" which has become a very well-known meme in Western Society.

Career

WWE (2001–2025)

Cena was signed by the person in charge of Talent Relations, Jim Ross on behalf of the WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation WWF). According to Ross, when he returned to Connecticut after signing Cena he walked into Vince McMahon's office and told him "I just signed your main event for WrestleMania in 5 years." Cena would eventually make his WrestleMania debut 3 years later at WrestleMania XX in 2004, winning the WWE United States Championship from The Big Show. At WrestleMania 21 the following year, he won the WWE Championship from John "Bradshaw" Layfield. At 2006's WresteMania 22 he wrestled for the first time in a WrestleMania main event, beating Triple H to keep his WWE Championship. He would go on to main event WrestleMania in 2007 vs. Shawn Michaels, in 2011 vs. The Miz, in 2012 and 2013 vs. The Rock, and in 2025 vs. Cody Rhodes. He also wrestled in many other WWE premium live events.

In 2010, during a match between Wade Barrett and Randy Orton, Orton won so Cena was forced to retire. He was rehired by Wade Barrett and defeated him at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

He was drafted to SmackDown as the first pick in the 2011 WWE Draft, but before the end of the night, he was drafted back to Raw.

He was defeated by The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII. He won his second Royal Rumble in January 2013. Therefore he got another match at WrestleMania 29 against The Rock for the WWE Championship. He won that match and became the WWE Champion.

At Saturday Night's Main Event XLII, on December 13, 2025, Cena wrestled the final match of his career. He faced Last Time Is Now Tournament winner Gunther and lost after submitting to Gunther's sleeper hold. In doing so, he also suffered his first submission loss in 20 years.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling

Cena introduced the spinner belt design of the WWE Championship after winning it in 2005. The design was used until 2013.
Cena also had his own spinner belt design of the United States Championship. He has the most United States Championship reigns in WWE at five.

Other awards and honors

  • NCAA Division III All-American
  • Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2015)
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation Chris Greicius Celebrity Award
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation Special Recognition Award (for being the first to grant 300 wishes)
  • 2014 Sports Social TV Entertainer of the Year
  • 2014 Rumble Royalty Hall of Game Award
  • 2014 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Grand Marshal
  • 2016 USO Legacy of Achievement Award
  • 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
  • 2024 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

1 ^ Cena did not accept the 2012 award, opting to award it to presenter Ric Flair instead.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ WWE lists Cena as having the most world championship reigns in wrestling, beating the record of Ric Flair at 16 reigns in 2025. But Flair won additional 14 world championships, which are not listed by WWE.
  2. ↑ Cena was the first man to lose his Money in the Bank cash in-match. He failed to beat CM Punk on the 1000th episode of Raw.

References

  1. ↑ John Cena: My Life. WWE (DVD). 2007.
  2. ↑ "John Cena's WWE History". UPW. Archived from the original on July 30, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  3. ↑ "John Cena on Wrestlingdata.com". Wrestlingdata. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "WWE Profile - John Cena". ESPN. August 1, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ "UPW: John "Prototype" Cena". Ultimate Pro Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "John Cena". Cagematch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ Dawn, Randee (April 3, 2017). "John Cena pops the question to Nikki Bella at WrestleMania 33 — and she said yes!". Today. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ "John Cena bio". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. February 6, 2005. Retrieved May 5, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ John Cena: My Life (DVD). World Wrestling Entertainment. 2007. Event occurs at 18:00.
  10. ↑ "John Cena Taps Out In His Last Match". Fightful. Retrieved December 14, 2025.

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