John Cena

John Felix Anthony Cena is an American actor, former professional wrestler, and former rapper born on April 23, 1977. He wrestled for WWE for 24 years, becoming a record-setting 17-time world champion before fully transitioning into an acting career. He remains signed to WWE as a brand ambassador.

Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, to Carol and John Joseph Cena, and grew up with four brothers. He attended Central Catholic High School and Cushing Academy before studying at Springfield College, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American center and captain of the football team. After graduating in 1999 with a degree in exercise physiology and kinesiology, he pursued bodybuilding and worked as a limousine driver and at Gold's Gym.

In 1998, Cena began training for professional wrestling at Ultimate Pro Wrestling in California under the ring name the Prototype. He signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation in 2001 and was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling. After making his main WWE television debut in 2002, he rose to prominence using a rapper persona called the Doctor of Thuganomics. He turned face in late 2003, beginning a heroic character portrayal that lasted until 2025 as the longest continuous run in WWE history.

Cena won his first singles title in WWE, the United States Championship, in 2004. He captured his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21 in 2005 by defeating John "Bradshaw" Layfield. Drafted to the Raw brand later that year, Cena served as the company's franchise player from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s. Over his wrestling career, he held the WWE Championship a record 14 times and the World Heavyweight Championship three times.

Across his time in WWE, Cena became the 35th Triple Crown and 25th Grand Slam champion. His accomplishments include winning two Royal Rumble matches, four Elimination Chamber matches, and one Money in the Bank match, alongside headlining major pay-per-view and livestreaming events. He wrestled on a part-time schedule starting in 2017 until his retirement in 2025.

In music, Cena released the rap album You Can't See Me in 2005, which reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. He is also recognized for his extensive charity work, having granted over 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which represents the most in the organization's history.

Cena began his acting career in 2006 starring in the film The Marine. He gained critical praise for his roles in comedy and action films such as Trainwreck, Blockers, and The Suicide Squad. His other film projects include Bumblebee and F9, and he portrayed the title superhero character in the television series Peacemaker.