“John Cena Huh? You tell me what is the one quality that makes you think that you can come out and get in the ring with me, Kurt Angle”
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“RUTHLESS AGGRESSION!”
Probably the greatest and the most wasted debut in Pro Wrestling History, he has even admitted that. He wasn’t ready, he was called up too soon, it was different than he expected, but due to a lot of Hustle, Loyalty and Respect and a Never Give Up Attitude, John Cena became one of the greatest WWE Superstars not only of his generation but possibly The Greatest Of All Time. It is undeniable that as soon as he hangs up the Jorts and Jordan’s, he will dawn a WWE Hall Of Fame Ring.
Born in West Newberry, Massachusetts in 1977, John Felix Cena, grew up in a Roman Catholic Household. Raised with 4 brothers, by a former Ring announcer, John Joseph Cena, Professional wrestling was a staple in the Cena home. John would design belts for his older and younger brothers as they would live out the matches in their living room and backyard that they would see on tv.
From the Gridiron to the Ring
After attending a school and playing Division 3 football at Springfield College, Cena pursued a short lived body building, that led him to move to California in 1998 to finally realize his dream of becoming a Professional Wrestler. He attended Rick Bassman’s Wrestling School, UPW and adopted the character of The Prototype. A half man half robot, loosely based off of the cyborg character Jean Claude Van Damme played in the Universal Soldier Franchise. This is the character that would take him out of flea markets, local gyms and grange halls, to the pros, WWE.
The Prototype was sent to OVW, Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWF/WWE’s former developmental program now owned and operated by former WWE Superstar, Al Snow. The era of OVW Cena was in, was one of the greatest classes to ever go through the program. All hand picked by former WWE talent scout and Play-by-Play announcer, the GOAT, Jim Ross. The OVW 4 as they would eventually and affectionately be called, John Cena, Bautista, Brock Lesnar, and Randy Orton would soon take over the WWE Landscape.
As stated at the beginning, Cena had one of the greatest debuts of all time, but he wasn’t sure how to transform from his semi-robotic character, to a believable character that the general public could get behind on the Main Roster, on Friday Night Smackdown, in a full stadium of people, ON TELEVISION! Failing to get the crowd behind him, John was pulled in the chairman’s office, and told to change it or walk away from his dream.
Doctor Of Thuganomics
On a special Halloween episode of Smackdown, Cena portrayed a Vanilla Ice type character, not knowing it would forever change the trajectory of his career, but set up the entire rest of his life. Adopting the new persona of The Doctor Of Thuganomics, Cena would go on a string of Main Event matches. While he was failing to win the big matches in the ring, John was quickly winning over the affection of the WWE Universe. Rap battles and diss versus about every Superstar and Executive in WWE, John Cena built an army of fans known as The Chain Gang. As a heal he was getting over more than half the baby faces in the back. Cena’s path was clear. He was a good guy and destined to be WWE Champion. After a feud with John Bradshaw Layfield, Cena would accomplish this task at Wrestlemania 21. Quickly turning the title into one of either the most loved or hated (my favorite) Title Belt Of All Time, the “WWE Spinner Belt”.
Win after win and push after push Cena slowly became a very polarizing character, not so lovingly at times, “Super Cena”. He seemed virtually unbeatable. Yes he would fall but you always knew Super Cena would prevail in his many awesome rivalries, from Edge to Orton, Batista, Mark Henry, JBL, The Rock, The Miz, and further down the road, the late Bray Wyatt, too many great feuds to name. Everytime the Trumpets hit, you knew half the crowd was going to boo and half were going to cheer, but undeniably he always gets the crowd the loudest when he comes out from behind the curtain.
Winning 13 WWE Championships, 3 World Heavyweight Championships, 5 United States Titles, 2 WWE Tag Team Titles, and 2 World Tag Team Titles, John Cena is one of the most decorated Superstars in the history of the sport, but his biggest accomplishment as came outside of the ring and when the cameras are off. John Cena has granted 650 Wishes, through The Make-A-Wish Foundation, being recognized by Guinness Book Of World Records with the most wishes granted by any other celebrity in the foundations existence. John has always been a champion of the children and great role model for how to give back to society.
John was given a major role in a WWE Production, The Marine, while it was met with mixed emotion, it would again lead to a huge change in Cenas life and his professional career. Getting roles in movies like, Trainwreck, The Daddy’s Home Franchise, Bumblebee, The Fast and Furious Franchise, The Suicide Squad, and now his very own tv series, Peacemaker, John would eventually start lessening his dates with WWE while still keeping his active status with the company and sport, showing up at least once a year to surprise fans and superstars alike. Even feuding with The Real Head Of The Table, Roman Reigns. All be it less and less as his movie career would take hold.
Run for 17
Saturday, July 6th, 2024, Money In The Bank, John Cena announced in the middle of the ring that 2025 will be his last run in the WWE. While he will have 30-40 (with the possibility of more being added) appearances, in WWE from January to December, there will only be one more Rumble, one more Chamber, one more Wrestlemania. One more title run with the hopes to break the record he now co-holds with Ric Flair, at 16 titles.
Growing Up With John Cena
This announcement has completely rocked an entire generation of Pro Wrestling fans. Anyone who watched WWE in the early to mid 00s have posted feelings of disparity, no matter how they felt, cheered or booed for John Cena. John was bigger than anyone else in that time period, this generations Hulk Hogan, he was The Superstar who dethroned Stone Cold Steve Austin for the most merch sales in the companies history (Cody Rhodes has now out sold Cena). Without at least the possibility of The Hero showing up and saving the company from tyrants such as The Authority, or new overlord The Final Boss, the WWE landscape is forever changed.
Thank you John Cena, and Congratulations on a Generational Career. We are ready for one more run. The Last Time Is Now…..
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