Marrakech – John Felix Anthony Cena Jr, born April 23, 1977, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, is an American retired professional wrestler, actor, author, and philanthropist widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern sports entertainment and pop culture.

Cena developed an interest in weight training as a pre‑teen and later earned a degree in exercise physiology from Springfield College in Massachusetts. 

After moving to California, he began training for professional wrestling, debuting in 1999. 

Cena signed with WWE (then WWF) and made his main roster debut in 2002, initially portraying a brash character that evolved into one of the company’s most enduring heroes.

Over more than two decades, Cena became one of the most decorated competitors in WWE history. 

The company recognizes him as a 17‑time professional wrestling world champion, including multiple WWE and World Heavyweight Championship reigns. 

Throughout his career, he also won numerous other titles, including the United States Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and tag team gold. 

Cena headlined multiple WrestleManias and became known for his signature moves, such as the Attitude Adjustment and STF, and his “Never Give Up” mantra.

He officially retired from in‑ring competition on December 13 of this year losing a highly emotional final match to rising star Gunther at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. 

Cena bowed to the crowd in a heartfelt farewell to fans, closing the curtain on a legendary wrestling career.

While still a top talent in WWE, Cena transitioned into acting, beginning in the mid‑2000s. 

He appeared in early action films such as The Marine (2006), and later starred in both action and comedy roles that broadened his audience. Notable film credits include:

  • “Trainwreck” (2015).
  • “Blockers” (2018) and “Playing With Fire” (2019).
  • “Bumblebee” (2018), part of the Transformers franchise.
  • “F9: The Fast Saga” (2021) and “Fast X” (2023) – as Jakob Toretto in the Fast & Furious series.
  • “The Suicide Squad” (2021) and the spinoff TV series “Peacemaker” (2022–2025), where he played the title character.

Cena has also voiced characters in animated films and continued expanding his screen presence through diverse roles.

Beyond entertainment, Cena is widely known for his charitable contributions, especially with the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation. 

He holds the Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes for children with critical illnesses, more than 650 wishes since he began working with the organization in 2002. 

His involvement has made him one of the most requested celebrities by wish recipients.

Cena’s creative pursuits include publishing children’s books and self‑help titles. He also released a rap album, “You Can’t See Me” (2005), which charted on the Billboard 200.