John Cena facts for kids

John Felix Anthony Cena (born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. He is famous for his long career with WWE, where he has won many championships. Many people consider him one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever. As an actor, he has starred in popular movies like Trainwreck (2015), Ferdinand (2017), and Bumblebee (2018).

Cena started his wrestling journey in 1999. He joined WWE in 2001. Early in his WWE career, he played a character who was a trash-talking rapper. After winning his first WWE Championship in 2005, he changed his character to a heroic "goody-two shoes Superman" type. He was a top star for WWE from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s. In 2025, he changed his character to a villain for the first time in many years.

Cena has won the WWE Championship a record 14 times and the World Heavyweight Championship three times. He has also won the United States Championship five times and tag team championships four times. He is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner. Outside of wrestling, Cena is well-known for his charity work, especially with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he has granted over 650 wishes.

Quick facts for kids John Cena
Cena in 2024
Born	John Felix Anthony Cena (1977-04-23) April 23, 1977 (age 48) West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	Springfield College (BS)
Occupation	Actor professional wrestler rapper
Years active	1999–present (wrestler) 2002–2005, 2014 (rapper) 2006–present (actor)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Huberdeau ​ ​ (m. 2009; div. 2012)​ Shay Shariatzadeh ​ ​ (m. 2020)​
Relatives	Ulysses J. Lupien (great-grandfather) Tony Lupien (grandfather) Trademarc (cousin) Natalie Enright Jerger (cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	John Cena The Prototype Juan Cena Mr. P
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	251 lb (114 kg)
Billed from	"Classified" West Newbury, Massachusetts Los Angeles, California
Trained by	Ultimate Pro Wrestling Christopher Daniels Mike Bell Tom Howard Fit Finlay
Debut	November 5, 1999
Signature

Early Life and Education

John Felix Anthony Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, on April 23, 1977. His parents are Carol and John Joseph Cena. He has four brothers. As a child, he loved wrestling and would even make championship belts out of cardboard.

Cena went to Central Catholic High School and then to Cushing Academy. He later attended Springfield College in Massachusetts. There, he was a captain of the college football team. In 1999, he graduated with a degree in exercise physiology. After college, he worked as a limousine driver and at a gym while pursuing a career in bodybuilding.

Professional Wrestling Career

Starting Out (1999–2002)

Cena moved to California in 1998 to train as a professional wrestler. He began wrestling in 1999 for Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW). He used the character name The Prototype, who was a bit like a robot. He even won the UPW Heavyweight Championship in 2000.

In 2001, Cena signed with WWE (then called WWF). He trained in their developmental league, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). While there, he won both the OVW Heavyweight Championship and the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.

Becoming a Star (2002–2005)

Cena made his WWE television debut on SmackDown in June 2002. He quickly became popular after he started using a new character: a rapper who would rhyme his insults. He was known as "The Doctor of Thuganomics." He wore hats and sports jerseys and often rapped before his matches.

Cena with his customized United States Championship belt in January 2005

In 2004, Cena won his first WWE championship, the United States Championship. He even had a special version of the belt. He lost and regained this title a few times. In 2005, Cena won his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. He then introduced a cool "spinner" version of the championship belt.

Top Champion (2006–2010)

After winning the WWE Championship, Cena was moved to the Raw brand. He had many big matches, including against Edge and Triple H. He lost the WWE Championship to Edge in early 2006 but quickly won it back. He continued to defend his title against many top wrestlers.

Cena addressing fans at a Raw show in October 2006

In 2007, Cena suffered a serious injury to his pectoral muscle. This forced him to give up his WWE Championship, ending a very long reign. However, he surprised everyone by returning much sooner than expected.

Cena as WWE Champion in 2010

Cena won the Royal Rumble in 2008, which earned him a championship match. He later won his first World Heavyweight Championship in November 2008. He continued to win major championships, becoming one of WWE's most decorated stars.

Major Storylines (2010–2013)

In 2010, Cena was involved in a big storyline with a group called The Nexus. He was forced to join them after losing a match. This led to many intense battles. He was even "fired" from WWE for a short time as part of the story, but he kept attacking The Nexus members.

Cena and The Rock agree to face each other at WrestleMania XXVIII in April 2011

Cena had a huge rivalry with The Rock (also known as The Rock). They had a highly anticipated match at WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012, which The Rock won. They had a rematch at WrestleMania 29 in 2013, where Cena won the WWE Championship.

He also had memorable feuds with CM Punk and Brock Lesnar. Cena won the Money in the Bank contract in 2012, which allowed him to challenge for the WWE Championship at any time. However, he was the first person to cash in the contract and not win the title.

World Championship Pursuits (2013–2015)

In 2013, Cena won the World Heavyweight Championship for the third time. He then faced Randy Orton in a match to unify the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships, but Cena lost.

Cena after defeating Rusev for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 31 in March 2015

In 2014, Cena won the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank. He later lost the title to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.

In 2015, Cena won the United States Championship again from Rusev at WrestleMania 31. He started holding weekly "open challenges" for the title, giving many wrestlers a chance to compete against him. He had exciting matches against stars like Kevin Owens and Cesaro. He lost the United States Championship to Seth Rollins at SummerSlam but won it back later that year.

Later Career and Retirement (2016–Present)

Cena continued to wrestle part-time while focusing more on his acting career. He had a big rivalry with AJ Styles in 2016, with both men winning matches against each other. In 2017, Cena defeated Styles at Royal Rumble to win the WWE Championship, tying Ric Flair's record of 16 recognized world championship reigns.

Cena in March 2018

He later had a memorable match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 34 in 2018. Cena also appeared at WrestleMania 35 in 2019 as his old "Doctor of Thuganomics" character, which fans loved.

In 2020, Cena faced Bray Wyatt in a unique "Firefly Fun House" match at WrestleMania 36. This cinematic match explored parts of Cena's career. Due to filming commitments, Cena could not appear at WrestleMania 37 in 2021. He returned later that year to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam, but he lost.

Cena face to face with The Rock at WrestleMania XL in April 2024

Cena continued to make special appearances in WWE. In 2023, he hosted Payback and teamed with LA Knight at Fastlane. At Crown Jewel, he lost to Solo Sikoa. At WrestleMania XL in April 2024, Cena made a surprise appearance to help Cody Rhodes in the main event.

In July 2024, Cena announced he would retire from full-time wrestling at the end of 2025. He competed in the Royal Rumble in February 2025. At Elimination Chamber in March 2025, Cena won the Elimination Chamber match. After the match, he attacked Cody Rhodes and teamed up with The Rock and Travis Scott, becoming a villain for the first time since 2003. At WrestleMania 41 in April 2025, Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, making him a record 17-time world champion. He has since defended his title against Randy Orton and CM Punk.

Professional Wrestling Style

In-Ring Style

Cena performing his finishing move, a fireman's carry slam known as the "Attitude Adjustment", on Kane in January 2012

Cena's early character, "The Doctor of Thuganomics," was a white rapper. He wore jerseys, backward hats, and a chain with a padlock. He would often rap before his matches, making fun of his opponents.

Later, his character changed to a more military-inspired look, wearing dog tags and cargo shorts. He often salutes the crowd as a sign of respect to the armed forces. His main finishing move, the "FU," was renamed the "Attitude Adjustment" to fit WWE's family-friendly programming. He also uses a submission move called the "STF."

Cena is known for his "Five Moves of Doom": two flying shoulder blocks, a protobomb, the "Five Knuckle Shuffle," and the "Attitude Adjustment." He is also famous for returning from injuries much faster than expected.

Ring Gear and Catchphrases

Cena's T-shirt (left) next to The Miz's ring gear (right) in 2012

Cena's ring gear often includes jean shorts, sneakers, wristbands, and armbands. He wears many different T-shirts and baseball caps with his famous catchphrases. These include "Never Give Up," "You Can't See Me," "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect," and "Respect. Earn it."

Acting Career

Films

Cena with members of the United States Marine Corps at the premiere of his film The Marine in October 2006

John Cena has starred in many movies. His first film was The Marine (2006), produced by WWE Studios. He also starred in 12 Rounds (2009) and Legendary (2010).

He appeared in the children's film Fred: The Movie (2010) as Fred's imaginary father. In 2015, he had roles in comedies like Trainwreck and Sisters. Cena also lent his voice to animated films such as Ferdinand (2017) and Dolittle (2020).

In 2018, he starred in the comedy Blockers and had a leading role in the Transformers spin-off, Bumblebee. He joined the Fast & Furious series, playing Jakob Toretto in F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023). Cena also played Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad (2021) and the TV series Peacemaker.

Television Appearances

Cena has appeared on many TV shows. He was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He also appeared on MTV's Punk'd. In 2007, he was part of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, helping to renovate a family's home.

He hosted two seasons of the reality show American Grit on Fox. Cena also hosted the ESPN ESPY Awards and Saturday Night Live. He hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards multiple times and a revival of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader. In 2021, he co-hosted the game show Wipeout.

Music Career

John Cena is also a rapper. He recorded his wrestling theme songs, including "Basic Thuganomics" and "The Time is Now." His debut album, You Can't See Me, was released in 2005. It featured his cousin, Tha Trademarc.

In 2014, Cena was featured on two songs with rapper Wiz Khalifa for the WWE 2K15 video game soundtrack. Cena taught himself to play the piano in 2016. In 2022, he performed a piano version of Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home" for the Peacemaker TV series soundtrack.

Other Activities

Endorsements

Cena signing merchandise for a young fan

Cena has endorsed many products, including energy drinks, Subway restaurants, and Gillette. He was also the pace car driver for the Daytona 500 race in 2016. In 2020, he became the new voice for Honda commercials.

Helping Others

Cena posing with children

John Cena is famous for his charity work. He has granted over 650 wishes for children with serious illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is the most wishes granted by any individual in the foundation's history. He received special awards for his dedication to Make-A-Wish.

Cena has also supported WWE's "Be a Star" anti-bullying campaign. He partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2016, he appeared in a public service announcement called "We Are America" to promote love and acceptance. In 2020, he donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter.

Personal Life

John Cena lives in Florida. He is married to Shay Shariatzadeh, whom he met in 2019. They got married in October 2020. Cena began learning Mandarin Chinese in 2016 to help WWE connect with more fans around the world. In March 2025, Cena shared that he had previously had skin cancer.

Awards and Nominations

Cena has received many awards for his work in entertainment.

Video Games

John Cena has been featured in many video games, often as a cover athlete.

Championships and Accomplishments

Cena has held the WWE Championship a record 14 times.

Three reigns as World Heavyweight Champion bring Cena's total to 17 world championships.

As a five-time United States Champion, Cena has the most reigns under the WWE banner.

Cena is a four-time Tag Team Champion in WWE, including two World Tag Team Championships.

Professional Wrestling

• Ohio Valley Wrestling
  • OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rico Constantino
• Ultimate Pro Wrestling
  • UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
  • WWE Championship (14 times, current)
  • World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • WWE United States Championship (5 times)
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with The Miz (1) and David Otunga (1)
  • World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Batista (1) and Shawn Michaels (1)
  • Money in the Bank (2012 – WWE Championship contract)
  • Royal Rumble (2008, 2013)
  • WWE Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament (2003, 2005)
  • Slammy Award (11 times)
    • Game Changer of the Year (2011) – with The Rock
    • Hero in All of Us (2015)
    • Holy $#!+ Move of the Year (2010) – Sending Batista through the stage with an Attitude Adjustment
    • Insult of the Year (2012)
    • Kiss of the Year (2012) – with AJ Lee
    • Match of the Year (2013, 2014) – vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29, Team Cena vs. Team Authority at Survivor Series
    • Superstar of the Year (2009, 2010, 2012)
    • OMG Moment of the Year (2025) – turning on Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber: Toronto
• Guinness World Records
  • Longest WWE face run before turning heel (7,786 days)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Feud of the Year (2006) – vs. Edge
  • Feud of the Year (2011) – vs. CM Punk
  • Match of the Year (2007) – vs. Shawn Michaels on Raw
  • Match of the Year (2011) – vs. CM Punk at Money in the Bank
  • Match of the Year (2013) – vs. Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam
  • Match of the Year (2014) – vs. Bray Wyatt in a Last Man Standing match at Payback
  • Match of the Year (2016) – vs. AJ Styles at SummerSlam
  • Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2003)
  • Most Popular Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
  • Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012)
  • Wrestler of the Year (2006, 2007)
  • Ranked No. 1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006, 2007 and 2013
• Rolling Stone
  • Best Promos (2015) – tied with Kevin Owens
  • Best Storyline (2015) – vs. Kevin Owens
  • WWE Match of the Year (2015) – vs. Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank
• Sports Illustrated
  • Muhammad Ali Legacy Award (2018)
  • Ranked No. 4 of the top 10 wrestlers in 2017
  • Ranked No. 4 of the 20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time
• The Baltimore Sun
  • Best Feud of the Decade (2010) – vs. Edge
  • Match of the Year (2007) – vs. Shawn Michaels on April 23 at Raw
  • Wrestler of the Year (2007, 2010)
  • Feud of the Year (2010) – vs. The Nexus
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Best Box Office Draw (2007)
  • Best Gimmick (2003)
  • Best on Interviews (2007)
  • Feud of the Year (2011) – vs. CM Punk
  • Match of the Year (2011) – vs. CM Punk at Money in the Bank on July 17
  • Most Charismatic (2006–2010)
  • Most Charismatic of the Decade (2000–2009)
  • Wrestler of the Year (2007, 2010)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)

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)
• Guinness World Records - Most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation (650+)
• 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
• 2024 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

Interesting Facts About John Cena

• Cena has a mixed background. His family comes from English, French-Canadian, and Italian roots.
• As a child, he loved wrestling. He would make championship belts out of cardboard.
• He was teased in school. At age 12, he asked for a weightlifting bench.
• After college, he worked as a limousine driver. He also worked at Gold's Gym.
• Cena is a big fan of anime. His favorite anime film is Fist of the North Star.
• He also loves Star Wars and the first two Smokey and the Bandit movies.
• He enjoys playing video games. His favorite series is Command & Conquer.
• He supports sports teams from his hometown. These include the Boston Bruins and Boston Red Sox. He also supports the English soccer team Tottenham Hotspur FC.
• He owns over 20 muscle cars. Some of them are very rare.
• In 2016, Cena started learning Mandarin Chinese. This was to help WWE grow in China. He even spoke Mandarin at a press conference there.
• In 2018, he also shared that he learned to play the piano.

John Cena's Famous Quotes

• "A man's character is not judged after he celebrates a victory, but by what he does when his back is against the wall."
• "If you don't learn from your mistakes, then they become regrets."
• "Never quit, never backdown."
• "Nobody remembers second place."

Images for kids

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  Cena facing Crash Holly at an Ultimate Pro Wrestling show in 2000

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  Cena at Royal Rumble in February 2025

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  Cena in December 2008

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  Cena and The Rock face off at WrestleMania XXVIII in April 2012

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  Brock Lesnar faces off with Cena after his return in April 2012

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  Cena being forced to read a public address by Wade Barrett while a member of The Nexus in November 2010

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  Cena at WWE Tribute to the Troops in December 2010

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  Cena with then-fiancée Nikki Bella in March 2018

See also

In Spanish: John Cena para niños