10 Little-Known Facts About WWE Superstar John Cena
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John Cena
Cover Star Cena
John first appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness in 2004. Since then, he has appeared in Men’s Fitness, Flex and a host of other fitness magazines and sites. He’s a fitness superstar, in a small and very elite group of men alongside big names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. Like those standouts, there’s a lot of information out there about him. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about the Champ.
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Multi-Sport Superstar
John was a student at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts where he was a Division III All-American center on the football team. Cena would wear number 54, which can be seen to this day on some of his WWE merchandise. He graduated from Springfield with a degree in Exercise Physiology before diving head first into bodybuilding.
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Prototype to a Champion
During his early matches, John went under the name The Prototype, a robotic character. He held a heavyweight title on the independent wrestling circuit.In 2001 WWE signed Cena to a developmental contract and The Prototype would eventually evolve into the finished product.
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Cena’s WWE TV Debut
On June 27th, 2002, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon pleaded with his stable of wrestlers to show some ‘ruthless aggression’. When Kurt Angle, a main event star, made an open challenge, the young Cena seized the opportunity to impress. John lost his first match on TV but showed a lot of heart and thus began a growing fan base that knows no bounds.
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Rappin, Reppin Badboy
When John appeared on his first M&F cover in 2004 the tag line ‘Rappin, Reppin Badboy’ was used to describe the rap/wrestling superstar. He performed his entrance music ‘Basic Thugonomics’ himself.John would rap his verbal promos and shoot down opponents with words, before he smacked them down in the ring.
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Cena CD Sells
‘You can’t see me’ was released as a 17-track album in 2005. The John Cena rap disc broke the Billboard top 20, peaking at 15, and hit number 1 on the Internet Album Chart.During the week of June 6th, 2005, the unlikely chart sensation outsold Audioslave and Dave Matthews Band. No one saw that coming.
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Wake up to John Cena
When The Rock returned to the WWE he’d go out on TV and criticize Cena for being ‘something for the kids’. The Rock would lambast him with the name ‘Fruity Pebbles’ in front of thousands of fans. So began a weekly chant of ‘Fruity Pebbles’.John would get the last laugh though. In 2013 he was featured on the Fruity Pebbles cereal box cover. He said it was a dream come true.
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Cena on Screen
While ‘The Rock’ is ruling supreme at the box office, Cena has made some movie history himself by starring in such flicks as ‘12 Rounds’ and ‘The Marine’. His newest movie, set to release on video this month is an animated film called Scooby Doo! ‘WrestleMania Mystery’.
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Wishes Come True
John Cena is a champion of the ‘Make-a-Wish’ charitable foundation. In February he was praised for becoming the first celebrity ever to grant 400 wishes to sick and dying children.It’s an incredible testament to John’s caring spirit and it’s even more impressive when you consider he fulfilled his 300th wish less than a year ago. John is a role model and an inspiration to millions all over the world.
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Champion of Champions
For observers of John Cena’s career in pro wrestling, and his impact on WrestleMania, it’s clear that he will be remembered as one of the biggest stars of all time.John holds the record for the most heavyweight titles won at a WrestleMania – a whopping four. He dethroned champions at WrestleMania 21, 25, 26 and 29. With John’s heart and unmatched work ethic many feel it’s just a matter of time before he’s champ once again.
John first appeared on the cover of Muscle & Fitness in 2004. Since then, he has appeared in Men’s Fitness, Flex and a host of other fitness magazines and sites. He’s a fitness superstar, in a small and very elite group of men alongside big names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno. Like those standouts, there’s a lot of information out there about him. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about the Champ.
Multi-Sport Superstar
John was a student at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts where he was a Division III All-American center on the football team. Cena would wear number 54, which can be seen to this day on some of his WWE merchandise. He graduated from Springfield with a degree in Exercise Physiology before diving head first into bodybuilding.
Prototype to a Champion
During his early matches, John went under the name The Prototype, a robotic character. He held a heavyweight title on the independent wrestling circuit.
In 2001 WWE signed Cena to a developmental contract and The Prototype would eventually evolve into the finished product.
Cena's WWE TV Debut
On June 27th, 2002, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon pleaded with his stable of wrestlers to show some ‘ruthless aggression’. When Kurt Angle, a main event star, made an open challenge, the young Cena seized the opportunity to impress. John lost his first match on TV but showed a lot of heart and thus began a growing fan base that knows no bounds.
Rappin, Reppin Badboy
When John appeared on his first M&F cover in 2004 the tag line ‘Rappin, Reppin Badboy’ was used to describe the rap/wrestling superstar. He performed his entrance music ‘Basic Thugonomics’ himself.
John would rap his verbal promos and shoot down opponents with words, before he smacked them down in the ring.
Cena CD Sells
‘You can’t see me’ was released as a 17-track album in 2005. The John Cena rap disc broke the Billboard top 20, peaking at 15, and hit number 1 on the Internet Album Chart.
During the week of June 6th, 2005, the unlikely chart sensation outsold Audioslave and Dave Matthews Band. No one saw that coming.
Wake up to John Cena
When The Rock returned to the WWE he’d go out on TV and criticize Cena for being ‘something for the kids’. The Rock would lambast him with the name ‘Fruity Pebbles’ in front of thousands of fans. So began a weekly chant of ‘Fruity Pebbles’.
John would get the last laugh though. In 2013 he was featured on the Fruity Pebbles cereal box cover. He said it was a dream come true.
Cena on Screen
While ‘The Rock’ is ruling supreme at the box office, Cena has made some movie history himself by starring in such flicks as ‘12 Rounds’ and ‘The Marine’. His newest movie, set to release on video this month is an animated film called Scooby Doo! ‘WrestleMania Mystery’.
Wishes Come True
John Cena is a champion of the ‘Make-a-Wish’ charitable foundation. In February he was praised for becoming the first celebrity ever to grant 400 wishes to sick and dying children.
It’s an incredible testament to John’s caring spirit and it’s even more impressive when you consider he fulfilled his 300th wish less than a year ago. John is a role model and an inspiration to millions all over the world.
Champion of Champions
For observers of John Cena’s career in pro wrestling, and his impact on WrestleMania, it’s clear that he will be remembered as one of the biggest stars of all time.
John holds the record for the most heavyweight titles won at a WrestleMania – a whopping four. He dethroned champions at WrestleMania 21, 25, 26 and 29. With John’s heart and unmatched work ethic many feel it’s just a matter of time before he’s champ once again.
