At 49, John Cena has successfully transitioned from a 26-year career as a WWE powerhouse to a prominent Hollywood leading man. Speaking on the release of his latest project, Apple TV’sMatchbox: The Moviewhich premieres on October 9, Cena maintains a generous and relaxed demeanor that contrasts sharply with the intensity often found in modern online figures. He emphasizes that respect remains a core value guiding his professional and personal life. I must admit, I was apprehensive about meeting John Cena. But dimwits nevertheless, the WWE wrestler turned actor has built an enviable Hollywood career playing idiots – capable idiots with real heart. Unprompted, that “a core value of mine is respect”, within a minute he has volunteered. Cena, 49, is speaking to me on behalf of Matchbox: The Movie, a film extension of the Mattel toy car brand for Apple TV, and for 45 minutes he is generous, funny, complimentary and elusive without ever being evasive. It’s a genuinely radical thing for a man built like a chest freezer – having only recently retired from wrestling after 26 years – to be so relaxed about being ridiculous, and in an age of such joyless online strongmen as Trump, Musk and Andrew Tate, his buff charm is welcome.
Cena’s rise from modest roots in West Newbury, Massachusetts, where he grew up as one of five brothers, is well-documented. Born in 1977, he frequently navigated financial instability during his youth. When bullied as a child for his unconventional clothing choices, he responded not with hostility, but by leaning into the criticism and dressing even more audaciously. He eventually used his growing physical stature as a deterrent, projecting a sense of formidable strength to avoid conflict. Still, Cena is obviously nobody’s fool; fools don’t rise from humble beginnings to become their generation’s answer to Hulk Hogan or The Rock. Silly and fond of a deliberate misunderstanding, or something closer to the comic-book characters he embodies so well: guileless.
His journey to stardom began in 1999 when he moved to California with approximately $500, hoping to mirror Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding success. While working at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach for six dollars an hour, he lived out of his 1991 Lincoln. A chance encounter with a fellow wrestler at the gym steered him toward a professional wrestling career that would span 24 years, an era he describes as a period of dedicated service.
During his tenure with the WWE, Cena became a cultural icon, often portrayed as a patriotic, jersey-wearing persona. He acknowledges that the organization invested heavily in this character, noting that he accepted the company’s ownership of that intellectual property as part of his career agreement. Even today, he maintains a role as a brand ambassador, reflecting both his gratitude and his ongoing adjustment to civilian life. He greets me with a lavish formality befitting a man who made his film debut as the title character in The Marine, perfectly punctual.
Despite his Hollywood success, Cena’s loyalty to Vince McMahon remains a complex and contentious topic. In January 2024, McMahon resigned as chairman and CEO of WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, following serious sexual assault allegations and pending lawsuits. While those legal matters—including a suit filed by a former employee—led to the transfer of litigation into confidential private arbitration in June, McMahon continues to deny all accusations.
Cena views McMahon as a mentor who provided him with a second family during his early wrestling days. Addressing the controversy, he stated that he feels no guilt or shame regarding his relationship with the former CEO. Describing his stance, he noted that he is holding to his principles amidst what he calls the storm, asserting that it is acceptable to love someone even when they are not perfect.
In his personal life, Cena finds stability that he believes is facilitated by his choice to be child-free, allowing him to dedicate himself fully to his work. He married Iranian-Canadian tech product manager Shay Shariatzadeh in 2020. Though they met in Vancouver, Cena prefers to keep the details of his private life out of the public eye, emphasizing that he has a loving connection that does not require global validation.
On screen, Cena has moved beyond the serious, flag-waving character of his wrestling days, proving adept at self-deprecating humor. Following his breakout role in the 2015 Judd Apatow comedyTrainwreckhe has embraced projects that allow him to subvert expectations. InMatchbox: The Moviehe plays an undercover operative named Sean, a role he welcomed for its departure from standard action tropes.
Ultimately, Cena acknowledges that he may never fully separate himself from the public perception shaped by his time in the ring. His screen performances often feel like extensions of the character he cultivated starting in 2002. As he navigates this second act, he remains committed to his professional standards while remaining steadfast in his personal loyalties, regardless of the public pressure surrounding his associations.
