JOHN CENA

John Felix Anthony Cena Jr., born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, is a renowned American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television host. At 48 years old, John Cena is currently signed to WWE on a part-time contract, holding the Undisputed WWE Championship in his record-setting 17th world title reign—making him the first-ever 17-time world champion in WWE history.

Early Wrestling Career and UPW Beginnings

John Cena began his professional wrestling journey in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW). In April 2000, he captured the UPW Heavyweight Championship, which he held for 27 days. Cena continued to compete in UPW until March 2001, setting the stage for a legendary WWE career.

WWE Debut and Rise to Stardom

In 2001, Cena signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Wrestling under the name The Prototype, he showcased his raw talent and charisma. He won the OVW Heavyweight Championship and later claimed the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship alongside Rico Constantino.

Cena began participating in WWF tryout matches throughout 2001. His standout performances led to an official WWE debut on June 27, 2002, on SmackDown, where he answered Kurt Angle’s open challenge in a memorable showdown.

The Doctor of Thuganomics Era

By late 2002, Cena rebranded himself as The Doctor of Thuganomics, a freestyle-rapping, edgy persona that resonated with fans. His sharp mic skills, charisma, and unique style quickly made him a fan favorite, helping him climb the WWE ranks.

In 2005, John Cena captured his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21, launching a historic run that would eventually see him become a 16-time world champion, tying Ric Flair’s legendary record. He went on to headline multiple WrestleManias and engaged in iconic rivalries with stars like Edge, Randy Orton, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock.

Cena also became a 5-time United States Champion, notably raising the title’s prestige with his 2015 U.S. Open Challenge. He won the Royal Rumble twice (2008, 2013) and claimed the Money in the Bank contract in 2012.

By the late 2010s, Cena shifted into a part-time WWE schedule as he pursued a thriving Hollywood career.

Hiatus and Return: 2020–2023

After a brief hiatus, Cena returned in February 2020 on SmackDown, facing Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 36 in a cinematic-style match. Cena lost, and his disappearance from the ring added mystery to his character arc.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Cena missed WrestleMania 37, breaking a near-20-year streak of appearances. He returned at Money in the Bank 2021, confronting Roman Reigns and later challenging him for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam, where Cena was ultimately defeated.

20th Anniversary and Recent Matches

John Cena celebrated his 20-year WWE anniversary on June 27, 2022, with a special appearance on RAW. He returned to in-ring action on December 30, teaming with Kevin Owens to defeat Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.

On July 1, 2023, Cena made a surprise appearance at Money in the Bank, suggesting WrestleMania should be held in the UK. He was interrupted and attacked by Grayson Waller, but responded with an Attitude Adjustment.

At WWE Payback, Cena was the special guest referee for LA Knight vs. The Miz. He later teamed with Seth “Freakin” Rollins at Superstar Spectacle, defeating Imperium.

After feuding with The Bloodline, it was announced on SmackDown (Sept. 22) that Cena would face Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa at Fastlane. A week later, LA Knight was added as his partner. At Fastlane, they beat The Bloodline, marking Cena’s first pay-per-view win since 2018. At Crown Jewel, Cena lost to Solo Sikoa.

Surprise Return at WrestleMania XL

On April 7, 2024, during the highly anticipated Night 2 main event of WrestleMania XL, John Cena made a surprise appearance to support Cody Rhodes in his battle against Roman Reigns. Cena delivered Attitude Adjustments to both Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns, giving Rhodes a crucial advantage in the match. The moment was short-lived, as The Rock made a dramatic return, hitting Cena with a devastating Rock Bottom, igniting the crowd in a shocking turn of events.

The following night on Monday Night RAW, Cena competed in his first match on RAW since January 2019, teaming up with RAW Tag Team Champions The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth). The trio secured a victory over Judgment Day members Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh, and Dominik Mysterio, marking Cena’s official return to in-ring action on WWE’s flagship show.

Retirement and Final WWE Run

On July 6, 2024, at WWE Money in the Bank, John Cena made a surprise appearance to announce his plans to retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025. As part of his farewell tour, Cena confirmed that WrestleMania 41 would mark his final appearance at the iconic event, signaling the end of an era in professional wrestling.

Cena appeared on the historic Netflix premiere of Monday Night RAW on January 6, 2025, where he revealed he would enter the 2025 Royal Rumble. At the Royal Rumble event on February 1, Cena delivered three eliminations, but was ultimately the last man eliminated by the match’s winner, Jey Uso.

Elimination Chamber Victory

During the Royal Rumble post-show press conference, John Cena revealed that he would enter the Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber: Toronto on March 1, 2025. Cena delivered a standout performance and emerged victorious. This marked Cena’s fourth Elimination Chamber win—tying Triple H’s record—and earned him a WrestleMania 41 title shot against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

The real shock though came after the match, when Cena launched a brutal assault on Rhodes, leaving him battered in the ring. Cena aligned himself with The Rock and Travis Scott, officially turning heel.

Cena vowed to retire as Undisputed WWE Champion and take the title with him. He promised to “ruin wrestling forever” in the process. On the March 31 episode of RAW, Cena explained his shocking betrayal of Cody Rhodes. He stated that Rhodes’ carefully crafted “perfect persona” disgusted him, and that his actions were personal, not strategic. Consequently, Cena attempted a cheap shot during the segment, but was stopped cold by a Cross Rhodes from the reigning champion.

17-time World Champion

At WrestleMania 41, the saga reached its peak. With unexpected help from Travis Scott, Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, making history as a 17-time world champion—the most in WWE history.

The night after WrestleMania on RAW, Cena’s celebration was cut short by Randy Orton blindsiding him with a RKO.

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STATS

Birth Name: John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.
Born: April 23, 1977, West Newbury, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 6 ft 0.5 in (184 cm)
Weight: 251 lb (114 kg)
Ring Name(s): John Cena, Juan Cena, The Prototype, Mr. P
Current Roster: WWE SmackDown
Finishing Move(s): Attitude Adjustment

John Cena’s Social Media:

John Cena Photos

Career Championships and Accomplishments

Ohio Valley Wrestling
- OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
- WWE Championship (14 times)
- World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- WWE United States Championship (5 times)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- World Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- Money in the Bank (2012 – WWE Championship contract)
- Royal Rumble (2008, 2013)
- WWE Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament (2003), 2005)

Other Awards/Honors
- 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 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Grand Marshal
- 2016 USO Legacy of Achievement Award