John Cena biography net worth, height, weight, career path, girlfriend, age 2025

John Cena Biography

John Cena (full name - John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.) is a legendary American wrestler and 16-time world champion. He's been competing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 2002.

He's also made his mark as an actor, appearing in over 20 Hollywood films and TV shows (including a memorable guest stint on the comedy series "Parks and Recreation"). In 2005, John dropped a rap album called "You Can't See Me," which hit #10 on the Billboard 200. In 2020, he joined the DC universe, landing the role of Peacemaker.

Childhood and Youth

John Cena was born on April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, USA. His parents were John Cena Sr., an Italian-American (hence the distinctive surname), and Carol Lupien, a Canadian native and daughter of baseball player Tony Lupien. John was the second of five children in the family - all boys.

From childhood, the boy stood out with his athletic build and robust health that seemed beyond his years. In one interview, John Cena admitted:

Back then in our small town in the southern US, watching Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels fight, I couldn't even dream that I'd one day become part of WWE's captivating world.

John was obsessed with American football from an early age, training several hours every day. Unlike many athletes, he was a straight-A student in school, and when college entrance exams came around, he got accepted to 58 out of 60 schools he applied to - everyone wanted this promising athlete on their team. Out of those 58 options, he chose Springfield College, even though it wasn't the most prestigious institution.

John Cena on the university football team

In 1998, as one of three team captains, he led the university team to Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in exercise physiology and was later inducted into Springfield College's Athletic Hall of Fame.

After college, the young graduate defied his father's wishes, left Massachusetts with just $500 in his pocket, and headed to California to chase his dreams. He wanted to make it as a bodybuilder, but right from the start, he faced major challenges. To afford gym memberships, he worked as a limo driver - driving a 1991 Lincoln that also served as his bedroom to save money on rent.

Wrestling and WWE

John Cena stumbled into professional sports completely by accident in 2000, when a fellow wrestler at his gym suggested he take lessons at Ultimate Pro Wrestling (then a WWE subsidiary company).

The idea of trying wrestling didn't seem strange to Cena – at 6'1" and weighing 240 pounds, he was the perfect candidate for the ring.

He made his first steps in this new career with serious confidence. Taking the ring name "The Prototype," Cena climbed the ranks of professional wrestling at breakneck speed, capturing the UPW Championship title in San Diego on April 27, 2001.

In February 2002, Cena won the OVW title, and by June of that same year, he'd launched his WWE career. In the federation, he became the absolute United States Champion, bringing the "WrestleMania XX" title back to California after defeating Big Show.

Over the following years, he repeatedly claimed championship titles across different federations and competitions, trailing only legendary figures like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and Bob Backlund in total championship belts.

John Cena in WWE vs Rey Mysterio

Throughout the subsequent years, Cena actively cultivated his image, much like his childhood idol Hogan, becoming an icon of American pop culture. He proved his worth as both a wrestler and showman not just in the ring, but beyond it.

John Cena's Entrance

In 2015, unable to defend his championship title in an open challenge he'd issued himself, Cena lost the WWE belt to Alberto Del Rio. Since then, he's appeared on shows as a part-timer, making sporadic appearances for big paydays.

In 2018, while receiving the Muhammad Ali Award from Sports Illustrated, Cena said his career was winding down and it was time to pass the torch to younger athletes.

On July 6, 2024, at the Money in the Bank tournament in Toronto, Cena stunned the wrestling world by announcing his decision to retire in 2025. "Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from WWE," he declared to a mixed crowd reaction.

Reports indicated his farewell tour would stretch across all of 2025 – roughly 36 performances worldwide, starting in January and wrapping up in December. "I'm dedicating the entire 2025 calendar year to WWE," Cena emphasized in interviews.

John Cena's Heel Turn

March 2025 brought a shocking twist – for the first time in many years, Cena turned heel in the ring, making an unexpected "turn to the dark side" that caught everyone off guard. Though Cena himself later called his work as a villain unsuccessful.

Film and Music

As part of WWE's regular film programming, Cena appeared in numerous interviews, showcases, and demonstrations. But he also stepped into the big screen as an actor, starring alongside Robert Patrick in "The Marine" and playing a rookie cop in "12 Rounds."

Cena's also a huge hip-hop fan. In 2005, he dropped the album "You Can't See Me," which peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

John Cena – My Time Is Now

For WrestleMania programming, he released two singles recorded with famous rapper Wiz Khalifa: "All Day" and "Breaks."

John Cena ft. Wiz Khalifa – All Day

In March 2015, another John Cena film hit theaters – "Trainwreck" – earning him positive reviews from critics.

2021 saw the release of the ninth "Fast & Furious" film. John Cena joined Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez's crew, landing the role of Jakob, Dominic Toretto's unhinged and aggressive younger brother.

John Cena appeared in the ninth Fast & Furious

Rumors swirled that Cena would play Sandman in Marvel's film series. The buzz started when John posted artwork of Sandman fighting Spider-Man on his personal blog. He'll likely show up in upcoming solo Spider-Man movies.

In 2020, Forbes estimated John Cena's net worth at $55 million.

Also in 2021, he appeared in "The Suicide Squad" from director James Gunn. Cena's character is called Peacemaker, one of DC's most unhinged heroes, and John himself calls him "a douchey Captain America." The former wrestler says he didn't hesitate to accept Gunn's offer to play Peacemaker because, while he's not a superhero comic or movie fan, he was blown away by Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy."

The Suicide Squad 2: John Cena as Peacemaker

In early 2022, John Cena returned as Peacemaker in a solo series, also directed by James Gunn. The show, set after the second "Suicide Squad," won over audiences from the first episodes, thanks not only to Gunn's signature style but also to John Cena's charisma.

About his work on the character, John explained:

I take the worst moments of my life and give them to the characters I play – both in movies and wrestling. In WWE, I perform under my real name John Cena: that Cena in shorts and a baseball cap who performs in the ring is very different from the real Cena. But we share some elements – joy, sadness, feelings of loss, that's all real. And when James writes a scene in the series where Peacemaker is sad, you have to take some sad moment from life and project it onto the hero.

In 2023, John Cena appeared in several notable projects. In spring, he returned as Jakob Toretto in "Fast X," continuing his storyline in the racing franchise.

This summer, audiences saw a brutal Cena in "Barbie" as Mermaid Ken. After his cameo in Greta Gerwig's acclaimed hit, the actor switched to voice work, lending his voice to the rhino Rocksteady in the animated film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."

John Cena and Dua Lipa in mermaid costumes swimming through painted waves — John Cena and Dua Lipa in "Barbie"

Fall brought the action comedy "The Freelancer," starring John Cena as a former military man who's grown tired of life as a simple security guard. Then Alison Brie's character, journalist Claire Wellington, hires him for protection during a trip to a dictatorship.

The film, directed by Pierre Morel, received an ice-cold reception from critics – just 10% on Rotten Tomatoes – but later found new life on streaming platforms.

In March 2024, Cena caused a sensation at the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, appearing on stage nearly naked (he walked out covered only by the envelope containing the winner's name). Ironically, he was presenting the award for Best Costume Design. His bit was a callback to the 1974 Oscars, when a streaker named Robert Opel ran across the stage.

John Cena and his "outfit" at the 2024 Oscars

Summer 2024 saw the release of "Jackpot!" on Amazon Prime Video, a futuristic action comedy about a deadly lottery, with Cena starring alongside Awkwafina. The film received mixed reviews from critics (31% on Rotten Tomatoes) but became Amazon's number one movie worldwide for four straight weeks. Director Paul Feig later complained that "critics had a field day" with the film, even though audiences embraced it warmly.

John Cena's Personal Life

In 2009, the wrestler married his girlfriend Elizabeth Huberdeau. She desperately wanted children, but Cena, as he stated in one of his interviews, wasn't planning to start a family until he finished his career. Due to this and other numerous disagreements, the couple divorced three years later.

After the divorce, he started dating wrestler Nikki Bella, one of the famous "Bella Twins." In 2017, they announced their engagement, but the couple split in 2018.

Shay Shariatzadeh

In early 2019, John Cena met Canadian-born Shay Shariatzadeh. In February 2020, paparazzi caught them on a walk, and the woman was sporting an engagement ring. In October 2020, a year and a half after meeting, they got married.

His chosen one is 14 years younger than John. She was born and raised in Canada but is of Iranian descent. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia and works as an engineer.

Their romance began at a Vancouver restaurant where Cena, who was filming the comedy "Playing with Fire" at the time, was watching the Super Bowl. Shay's friend recognized him and asked for a selfie, then introduced her to his future wife. "I didn't wait two days to text," Cena recalled. "Walking out of the restaurant, I texted her: 'It was nice meeting you, you're beautiful, I'd like to get to know you better.'"

Cena tries to keep his personal life out of public discussion. On Dax Shepard's podcast in April 2024, he said:

I really value her safety and well-being. One of the promises I made to her at the altar: 'I will do everything I can to not put you in harm's way unnecessarily.'

One of his most honest revelations was the couple's position on children. In 2024 on Shannon Sharpe's podcast, Cena explained:

I don't want them. I have a certain curiosity about life, and I also know the investment it takes. My biggest fear is that as a driven person, as someone who is admittedly stubborn and selfish... I don't think I'm personally ready and I don't know that I ever will be ready to invest the time it takes to be a great parent.

His wife shares his views, which John made sure to clarify on one of their first dates.

Hobbies

John is an avid collector of sports cars. His garage houses more than 30 models, some of which are one-off productions.

One of the favorite specimens in the wrestler's collection

The wrestler is a huge baseball fan. He particularly roots for the Boston Red Sox.

John Cena Now

The wrestler is confidently building his acting career. In July 2025, the action film "Heads of State" premiered on Amazon Prime Video. Cena played the role of the U.S. President alongside Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister. The film received mostly positive reviews.

John Cena and Idris Elba in suits raising their hands up, scene from an action movie — John Cena and Idris Elba in "Heads of State"

On August 21st, the second season of "Peacemaker" premiered. The series came out after the film "Superman: Legacy" and preceded the events of the then-unreleased series "Waller."

Cena has repeatedly emphasized that DC has him in a "death grip" regarding plot details, so in interviews the actor playfully dodged questions about the second season.

He also starred in Sam Hargrave's sci-fi film "Matchbox," which was scheduled to premiere in fall 2026, as well as the Netflix comedy "Little Brother" alongside Eric Andre.

John Cena

Photos: John Cena