With humor and sincerity, John Cena talks about his childhood, his baldness, WWE, Hollywood Make-A-Wish, and much mores. All this in a recent interview with PEOPLElaunched after “the best of all time” lost the WWE championship at the hands of Cody Rhodes in Summerslam 2025 before being attacked by Brock Lesnar.
► In the words of John Cena
Childhood and vocation
«I wanted to do this all my life … If this 9 -year -old boy would say that I was going to do this, I would believe it. When I was about 22 years old, I listened for the first time about a wrestling school. Before, it was something mystical, secret. I drew my own champion belts, and with my brothers we made shows with music, tickets and characters. »
WWE race
«What I wanted was for more people to come to the shows. That's why I made movies, to bring more audience to WWE. As a fighter, I loved the public's energy. It is indescribable. Only those who present themselves live. The public has been like a family for me for 25 years. They keep you honest. If you pretend, let you know. I promised that when I was slower, I would retire. I don't want to take a chance to another young man like I was. I've been on television with WWE. I approached the company with the idea of making a farewell tour, to give fans a closure. »
Transition to cinema and learning
«In The Marine, I was not there to be the Marine. I was thinking about something else. It was not present. It shows at work. They took me out of the movies in 2009 for doing mediocre jobs without being focused. I thought that being a champion was enough to see my films. I was wrong. That moment made me reset my odometer: it's time to learn another job. “
Comedy and Trainwreck
«I started in small movies like Fred, where I parodied myself. There I learned not to take me so seriously. In Trainwreck we improvised a lot. Amy Schumer and Judd Apatow created a safe space so I could risk. I started building the character: obsessed with the gym, sexually confused, egolatra … none of that was in the script, but they let me contribute those layers. »
Make-A-Wish Foundation
«I am very grateful for the time I have spent in make-a-wish. When I am with the children, I give them my fighting team and sometimes they tell me what movement to do. Then I put it in the fight without the public knowing it. That is the magic of sports entertainment. It affects both at an indescribable level. “
Barbie and authenticity
I didn't make Barbie for fame. I saw the pink carts and I thought it would be fun. Margot Robbie is an incredible professional. Do not ignore orientation, but also trust your instinct. Don't take yourself so seriously. I know who you are. WWE's public prepared me for that. Now I can say that I was a triton. Mom is proud!«.
Peacemaker and team spirit
«I love uniformity. For 25 years I used the same shorts and t -shirt. Now I wear this suit (from Peacemaker) and I follow that routine. We had a lot of fun recording. We have a group with good limits, professional respect and we love this project. We are adorable losers. In the series, we save the day, but we have to pass by the true heroes so that they receive the credit. That's us.»
About his image and baldness
«When I tried to hide my baldness, the public made me know with posters. So I made a capillary transplant last November. I want to be genuine with the audience. They made me see that I had to do something about it. And I did. “
