10 interesting facts you don’t know about WWE superstar John Cena
Despite being one of the most popular figures in the world, John Cena has some interesting things that his fans are unaware of.
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John Cena (via WWE)
John Cena is one of the biggest stars that WWE has ever produced. The 16-time World Champion has been the face of the company for decades. He has carried this industry forward, driving it to the pinnacle of pro wrestling. John Cena left an unparallelled legacy behind that the youngsters still follow to this day.
The Cenation Leader has given some of the most iconic moments to this industry. He has won all the major titles in his career. Moreover, the 16-time World Champion has headlined multiple WrestleMania. Besides, John Cena has always been one of the most beloved WWE superstars across the world.
John Cena has been an idol for many wrestling fans who grew up watching him. As a result, they have always longed to know more about the Cenation Leader. Take a look at ten interesting and unknown facts about John Cena.
1. John Cena started weightlifting to combat bullies
Cena is a muscular guy with a very-strong physique, thanks to his weightlifting regime. But the origins of his weightlifting date back to Cena’s pre-teen years. While appearing on The Tonight Show, Cena revealed that he used to be a skinny guy, who was often teased for his choice of clothing and music.
The Cenation Leader used to get beaten up in school. Instead of learning karate, he decided to get bigger. For Christmas, when Cena was 12 years old, he asked for a weightlifting bench. By the time he was 15, no one was stronger than John Cena. This even led to Cena being named “Best Body” in his senior yearbook.
2. John Cena loves sports cars
John Cena owns an astonishing collection of around 20 cars. It includes a variety of custom-made cars, along with a couple of Corvettes, Chevrolets, a Lamborghini and a Ferrari too. His passion and enthusiasm for automobiles are unparalleled. In an interview, Cena revealed that he buys cars because he enjoys them.
The former WWE Champion believes that every car has a story. John Cena also had his own automobile show called “John Cena: Auto Geek” where he used to discuss his enviable car collection. He is one of those superstars who loves to ride cars at his leisure. His collection of automobiles is the epitome of that.
3. John Cena has authored several children’s books
John Cena has always had one message for the kids – “It’s okay to be different. And it’s okay to be you.” With this message, Cena committed to creating a book series for kids. For this, he created a monster truck character named Elbow Grease, who isn’t the best but is always true to himself.
“Elbow Grease’s strength is gumption and the ability to just focus and work hard on the task ahead. These concepts have been transformative in my life, from my childhood up to now, and it’s so important to me to pass the positivity on and help our youngest generation see that right mindset is key to achievement,” Cena stated in a press release.
4. John Cena released a hit rap album
John Cena’s WWE career received a massive boost when he debuted his “Doctor of Thuganomics” character. This character was introduced after Stephanie McMahon noticed him rapping, and decided to use his real-life talents on screen. The gimmick was loved by the WWE Universe and they enjoyed the persona.
He released the song “Basic Thuganomics” on a 2004 WWE Originals album. In 2005, he even released a rap album with cousin Tha Trademarc, titled You Can’t See Me. “I love [WWE] like nobody else, and this is my thing I live, eat, sleep, and breathe this — but whenever I have some time away from the ring, you’ll find me in the studio,” Cena told WWE.
5. John Cena eats Tic Tacs to calm his nerves
Every WWE superstar or every sportsperson has a habit of doing certain things before their matches. John Cena has some of them, such as knocking on wood as well as shaking an opponent’s hand and saying, “Good luck. Be safe. Have fun.” But the most interesting one involves eating Tic Tac before his matches.
The Cenation Leader said, “I always eat Tic Tacs before the match, starting about three hours [before the match]. I consume probably five boxes of Tic Tacs on a daily basis before a performance.” John Cena did this to calm his nerves, but he has also identified an additional benefit. “The ring is 20 by 20 feet, and you’re with a group of guys, so you always want to try to smell your best,” he said.
6. John Cena used to live in his car
After college, John Cena moved to California because he wanted to pursue a career in bodybuilding. But with only $500 in his pocket, his dad warned him that he would run out of money soon. But the Cenation Leader hustled and worked in a store of Venice Beach Gold’s Gym for $6 an hour to make ends meet.
To save on his expenses, John Cena lived out of the back of his Lincoln Continental. “I was struggling, but I wasn’t ever sad. I was in the place where fitness had become famous, and I actually loved what I did,” he said. John Cena has worked hard and is now one of the richest sports personalities in the world.
7. John Cena loves his rivalry with Dwayne Johnson
With a career spanning over a decade, Cena had several rivalries on WWE. But he considers the one with Dwayne Johnson his favorite. “He tends to bring out the best in everyone. That’s why I admire him so much. Whether I personally like him or not is irrelevant. He brings out the best in everyone,” Cena has told Men’s Journal.
John Cena and The Rock faced off against each other at Wrestlemania XXVII in 2012, in which The Rock emerged victorious. The following year, they had a rematch, in which the Cenation Leader emerged victorious. Their rivalry will forever be remembered, as it gave rise to some of the most iconic moments in WWE.
8. John Cena played college football
While he was at Massachusetts’ Springfield College, Cena was a football star on the offensive line. He even led the Division III school, as a captain, to its first NCAA post-season game. The former WWE Champion was named Hewlett-Packard Division III First-Team All-America and Eastern College Athletic Conference New England/Northeast Division III All-Star.
But John Cena thought that he was “too small” to consider a career in football. He even played a similar character in the audio series 64th man. However, the Cenation Leader later debuted in pro wrestling and has emerged as one of the biggest superstars. Due to his WWE career, many people are not aware of his football career.
9. John Cena holds a record for granting Make-A-Wish
John Cena has always believed in giving back to the community. One of the several charitable works that he does is grant wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They work on fulfilling the dreams of critically ill children between the ages on 2.5 and 18. John Cena’s love for the children is unparallelled.
The Cenation Leader has granted over 650 wishes, which is a feat that no other celebrity has achieved. He is also the foundation’s most requested celebrity. Cena has always been the favorite superstar for the children, and they have always viewed him as a super hero. Most of the kids grew up watching and idolizing John Cena.
10. John Cena speaks Mandarin
Former WWE Champion John Cena has played a massive role in helping WWE reach the Asian market. He also has a special interest in the culture and has learnt Mandarin. He has often impressed his fans by speaking in Mandarin during press conferences. It has fascinated the fans, leaving them in awe.
“I just try to immerse myself in the culture as much as I can,” Cena said. Back in 2017, he called his skill level “remedial” and said, “I’ve been studying Mandarin for five years and I still speak like a third-grader.” With time, he developed his learning skills, eventually getting a grasp of the language.
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Sanchit Chandalia
(1378 Articles Published)