John Cena

From the Prototype to Thuganomics

John Cena was born on April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts. A bodybuilder, he moved to California in 1998 to train at Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where he wrestled as a robotic character called the Prototype. He signed with the WWF in 2001 and sharpened his skills in its Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory.

On June 27, 2002, he made his WWE television debut by answering Kurt Angle's open challenge on SmackDown. He soon reinvented himself as the Doctor of Thuganomics, rapping insults at opponents, and in 2005 he even released a rap album, You Can't See Me.

The face of WWE

Apart from an early villain run, Cena spent nearly his whole career as WWE's top hero. He won the WWE Championship a record 14 times, won the Royal Rumble twice and headlined WrestleMania again and again, including two famous clashes with The Rock in 2012 and 2013. On January 29, 2017, he tied Ric Flair's record of 16 recognized world title reigns.

Outside the ring, Cena granted more than 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, more than anyone in its history. From 2017 he wrestled part time as his Hollywood career grew.

A surprising farewell tour

At Money in the Bank on July 6, 2024, Cena announced he would retire at the end of 2025. The last lap took a twist: at Elimination Chamber in March 2025 he won the Chamber match, then turned villain for the first time since 2003 by attacking Cody Rhodes. On April 20, 2025, in the main event of WrestleMania 41's second night, he beat Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship and became a record 17-time world champion. Rhodes took the title back at SummerSlam on August 3, and Cena returned to his heroic role.

The last time

Cena's final match came on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena. His opponent, Gunther, had earned the spot by winning a tournament called The Last Time Is Now. After escaping several sleeper holds, Cena finally tapped out, a stunning end to a career that began in 1999. Days earlier, he had agreed to stay with WWE as an ambassador.

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