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Jonathan Felix Anthony Cena, Jr. (born April 23, 1977 in West Newbury, Massachusetts), better known to wrestling fans simply as John Cena, is an Italian-American professional wrestler, rap music artist, and currently performs for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the RAW brand, where he is the current WWE Champion. Cena brought the once SmackDown!-exclusive WWE Championship belt to RAW on June 6, 2005 when he was drafted to RAW during the 2005 Draft. Cena has released a music CD, You Can't See Me, with Tha Trademarc, and has performed live concerts with Tha Trademarc and Bumpy Knuckles.

Before his professional wrestling career, John Cena was a bodybuilder, college football star, a team captain and All-American center for Division III at Springfield College. While at Springfield, he earned a degree in exercise physiology.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Cena's first televised WWE match was against Kurt Angle on June 27, 2002. Angle was giving "free shots" at himself to newcomers. Inspired by Vince McMahon's recent, somewhat inscrutable, speech to WWE's rising stars, exhorting them to show "ruthless aggression" to earn a place among the legends, Cena took advantage of this opportunity. He almost beat Kurt Angle, kicking out of the Angle Slam and surviving the Ankle Lock submission hold, but ultimately losing to a hard amateur-style pin.

Cena was a typical face, an underdog in each match, which at first did not get much reaction from the fans. After losing with then baby face, Billy Kidman in a tournament match for the new WWE Tag Team Championships, Cena turned heel and blamed Kidman for the loss. Shortly after his heel turn, on a Halloween episode of SmackDown!, he performed a freestyle rap in a Vanilla Ice costume to Stephanie McMahon, and his gimmick was changed to that of a white rapper. At first, this gimmick got Cena a lot of heel heat from the fans, but he was later cheered by them due to the freestyle raps he made about other wrestlers. During his run as a heel, Cena feuded with the Undertaker and Chris Benoit and also got some help from the Full Blooded Italians. One of Cena's first trademark symbols was a modified, classic WWF logo (without the "F") with the slogan "Word Life."

Cena also feuded with Brock Lesnar. During that feud, he derived his signature finishing maneuver, the F-U as a counterpart to Lesnar's similar F-5 move. Later, when Lesnar turned heel, they briefly joined forces. However, due to his growing popularity, Cena eventually turned face, betraying Lesnar and feuding with him again. Cena established his signature "You can't see me" catch phrase and hand gesture during this time as well. In a 2003 Survivor Series match, he was on a team led by Kurt Angle with Benoit, John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and Holly against Lesnar, The Big Show, Nathan Jones, Matt Morgan and A-Train. In the end Cena hit the F-U on The Big Show and got the final pin, leaving him and Benoit as the sole survivors. The two superstars ended their feud there, though they would later fight each other during Cena's run for the WWE United States Championship.

United States champion

In 2004, Cena's popularity started to increase. He feuded with The Big Show, leading to a WrestleMania XX victory to win the WWE United States Championship, his first WWE title. Eventually he was stripped of the title by then-SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle. Cena later won the title back after winning a best-of-5 match series with Booker T. His second title reign was short-lived; he lost the title to the debuting Carlito Caribbean Cool in Cena's first televised match since regaining the title.

As part of an angle, Cena was attacked in a Boston nightclub by Carlito's bodyguard, Jesus, which kept Cena from wrestling for about a month due to a kidney puncture. In actuality, this event was kayfabe and Cena was busy filming "The Marine". He returned to wrestling just in time for the 2004 Survivor Series. Upon his return, Cena exacted revenge on Carlito in a SmackDown! match and won the U.S. title back. Afterward, however, Cena was attacked in the ring by Jesus, who hit him in the kidney several times with his own chain.

Cena's United States title reigns were notable for two reasons. His second title reign came after a best-of-5 series of matches - a series of matches similar to the one wrestled by Booker T and Chris Benoit for the World Television Championship in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In addition, Cena wore a modified United States title belt during his third reign as champion. The new belt featured the same colors, but with the face plate fashioned as a spinner.

WWE Champion

At the 2005 Royal Rumble, Cena and Batista both went over the top rope at the same time to end the match, but Vince McMahon demanded the match go into sudden death. Cena had Batista in a FU but Batista reversed it to win the match. Shortly after, Cena competed in a tournament to become the #1 contender for the WWE Championship, and won the tournament by defeating Kurt Angle at No Way Out. In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 21, where Cena was to face JBL, Cena lost his United States Championship to JBL's Chief of Staff, Orlando Jordan, with he and JBL blowing up the spinner style belt the following week. During this feud with JBL, Cena established a name for his fans: the "Chain Gang Soldiers" (often shorted to "Chain Gang").

On April 3, 2005 at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles, Cena defeated JBL to win his first WWE Championship. Cena then had a custom WWE Championship belt made, just as Stone Cold Steve Austin did with his "Smoking Skull" belt. The WWE Championship belt is similar to his custom U.S. title belt, featuring a Spinner type WWE logo plate. In the meanwhile, JBL stole the original WWE belt and claimed he was still WWE Champion.

At Judgment Day, Cena successfully defended his title against JBL in a bloody "I Quit" Match. JBL, cornered against a glass pane, quit to avoid getting hit by a tractor trailer's exhaust pipe. He got hit anyway, sending him through the glass pane behind him. Cena was able to reclaim the real WWE Championship belt, though he still carried around his Spinner belt.

Drafted to RAW

On the June 6, 2005 episode of RAW, John Cena became the first draft in the annual WWE Draft Lottery, with Eric Bischoff drafting him from SmackDown! to RAW. Upon entering RAW, Cena immediately entered an angle with Chris Jericho and Christian. The rivalry between Christian and Cena had already been established when Christian attacked Cena on the Jericho's Highlight Reel, while Cena's rivalry with Jericho started when Jericho turned on Cena in a tag team match against Christian and Tyson Tomko.

Cena defeated Christian and Chris Jericho in a Triple Threat match at WWE Vengeance by knocking Jericho out of the ring and pinning Christian. On the June 27 edition of RAW, Cena teamed with Shawn Michaels and a returning Hulk Hogan for the first time to beat Jericho, Christian, and Tyson Tomko.

Feud with Bischoff

Cena quickly made enemies with RAW general manager Eric Bischoff, delivering the F-U to Bischoff on the July 11,2005 edition of RAW. Bischoff vowed to make Cena's stint on RAW difficult and chose Chris Jericho to contend for Cena's title. On July 25, 2005 Cena and Jericho competed in the first ever battle of the bands on RAW. The battle featured Cena's Chain Gang against Jericho's Fozzy. Cena performed but Jericho refused, claiming the audience was biased against him and said that Fozzy would not perform until the upcoming SummerSlam Pay-per-view. After a successful title defense against his rival Carlito, Cena successfully defended his title against Chris Jericho at SummerSlam 2005.

On August 22, 2005 in Hampton Virginia, Cena beat Jericho in a "You're Fired" match for the WWE Championship despite the General Manager giving Cena a low-blow and brass knuckles to Jericho. After the match, Kurt Angle came into the ring and attacked Cena while Eric Bischoff revealed that Angle was the number one contender for Cena's world title. After several weeks of feuding, both men faced off in the main event of Unforgiven, where Cena lost to Angle by disqualification after hitting Angle with the WWE Title belt, meaning Cena would still be Champion. At Taboo Tuesday 2005, Cena again successfully retained his WWE Championship in a triple threat match against Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels by pinning Michaels.

On the November 14, 2005 edition of RAW, Cena paid tribute to Eddie Guerrero, who had recently passed away. After a main event match with Randy Orton that had Cena delivering the F-U to Orton, Cena took off the Eddie Guerrero "I'm Your Papi!" T-shirt he had worn during the match in Eddie's honor. He laid it down on the mat and placed his championship belt on top of it, honoring Guerrero, who was a former WWE Champion.

At the 2005 Survivor Series, Cena successfully defended the WWE Championship against Kurt Angle.

On the December 5, 2005 episode of RAW, Cena made his opinion of Bischoff known during Bischoff's mock trial and helped Vince McMahon fire Bischoff by delivering the F-U to the former RAW general manager, effectively ending the hostilities he had with Bischoff and giving him the last laugh.

Losing the WWE Championship

On January 8, 2006, at New Year's Revolution, Cena successfully defended his WWE Championship in an Elimination ChamberMatch. However, after the match, Vince McMahon came onto the stage and announced that Cena was going to defend the WWE Championship against Edge, who was cashing in his previously earned "Money in the Bank" title shot. Edge quickly delivered two spears to Cena, pinning him to win the WWE Championship and to end Cena's reign as WWE Champion at 280 days, matching that of previous champion JBL.

Second WWE Championship reign

At the 2006 Royal Rumble, Cena regained the WWE Championship by forcing Edge to tap out to the STF-U. He would successfully defend the title against Edge in a later rematch.

On February 20 2006, Triple H defeated RVD and Big Show to win the Road to WrestleMania Tournament which in turn gave him a title shot at Cena's WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22. On the February 27, 2006 edition of RAW, Triple H and John Cena went face-to-face verbal confrontation in the middle of the ring. Triple H accused Cena several times of lacking in-ring ability, saying "Well, excuse me if I'm not afraid of the guy whose one big move is pumpin' up his Reeboks."

The two men were then informed by Vince McMahon that they would be teaming up as partners in a handicap match prior to WrestleMania 22. Their opponents: Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, and the World Heavyweight Champion, Kurt Angle. This match occurred at the return of Saturday Night's Main Event on March 18, 2006. Despite Triple H's attempts to injure Cena, Cena was able to roll up Orton for the pin.

On the March 20, 2006 edition of RAW, Cena and Shawn Michaels were scheduled for a tag-team match against Triple H and Shane McMahon. Cena, however, was "disqualified" from the match by Vince McMahon early for hitting Shane with a closed fist, even though Shane was not the legal tag member in the ring. The then-handicap match of HHH & Shane vs Michaels turned bloody for HBK as he proceeded to take a beating. Cena reapeared in the ring in time to save Michaels and they together proceeded to beat up Triple H and a host of Vince's bodyguards as both of the McMahons ran away up the ramp. On the March 27 edition of RAW, Michaels faced Triple H and Cena faced McMahon; both Cena and HBK were left bloodied after McMahon intentionally cost himself the match by DQ.

Outside of wrestling

Music and movies

John Cena also makes rap music. He performed his fifth WWE entrance song, "Basic Thugonomics", which was featured on the WWE soundtrack album WWE Originals. His track "Untouchables" was featured on Theme Addict, another WWE soundtrack album. His debut album which he recorded alongside his cousin Tha Trademarc, You Can't See Me features his current entrance theme "My Time is Now". Tha Trademarc is currently working on his own album which will feature John Cena. The first single from the You Can't See Me album was "Bad, Bad Man". The music video for the song, a parody of 1980s culture and the television show The A-Team, premiered on an edition of SmackDown!. WWE premiered the music video for Cena's second single, "Right Now", on the August 8 edition of RAW.

John Cena has worked with several personalities in the Hip-Hop industry, such as Freddie Foxx (Bumpy Knuckles), 7L, Esoteric, Murs (including a music video), E-40 and Chingo Bling. He and Method Man were also featured in SmackDown! magazine and MTV.com. Most recently, Cena and Tha Trademarc are featured on a track by The Perceptionists, "Champion Scratch." Cena has also performed on BBC Two's long running Top of the Pops, becoming the first professional wrestler to perform on the program.

A division of World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE Films produces and fully finances motion pictures under the supervision of Joel Simon, President of of the company. John Cena's first movie credit will be the lead role in The Marine, a film directed by John Bonito, co-starring Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Walk the Line) and Kelly Carlson (Nip/Tuck). WWE has completed a deal with 20th Century Fox to distribute The Marine theatrically in 2006. Stars of other movies by WWE Films include Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kane, and Triple H.

Fashion

Cena's ring attire in and out of the ring reflects the old school hip-hop culture that his character represents. He previously wore throwback jerseys (during his time as heel, he would wear jerseys of a rival team of the city he was wrestling in; as a good guy, he would wear jerseys of one of the city's home teams), though he now generally wears "Chain Gang" related merchandise. He has also worn a chain with a lock on it to the ring and the chain was at times utilized as a weapon. This chain is now (usually) replaced by his enormous, chromed and diamond studded "Chain Gang" spinner medallion.

When Cena was part of the SmackDown! brand, his apparel bearing the suggestive spoonerism "Ruck Fules" was censored when he wore it on camera. They were not censored by UPN, but by WWE to sell more shirts under the premise that it was "too hot for TV."

Guest appearances

Prior to his debut in WWE, Cena made a guest appearance on the Internet stream show Go Sick in 2001 as an angry, cursing wrestler called Bruebaker.

During his WWE career, Cena has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on July 23, 2005 in order to promote his CD, WWE, and SummerSlam 2005. Other appearances include Fuse's Daily Download, FOX Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period, G4's Training Camp(also with Shelton Benjamin), and he has also served as a co-presenter with Hulk Hogan on the 2005 Teen Choice Awards show.

Cena also was the guest on the October 23, 2005 episode of "Wally's World" on NBC's Bank of America Countdown to Green where he rode with NBC analyst Wally Dallenbach around Martinsville Speedway, then proceeded to put NBC pit reporter Marty Snider into a submission move. (NBC Universal owns the USA Network, which broadcasts WWE RAW.)

Cena appeared on the November 26, 2005 episode of Mad TV, appearing in the opening segment and in a 24 spoof skit with cast member Bobby Lee.

Cena was also a guest judge on the MArch 28, 2006 edition of Nashville Star.

Wrestling facts

Finishing and signature moves

• F-U (Standing fireman's carry takeover or fireman's carry powerslam)
• STF-U (Stepover toehold sleeper)
• Killswitch (Side release spin-out powerbomb)
• 5 Knuckle Shuffle (Fist drop with theatrics)
• Top-Rope Leg Drop
• Flying shoulder block
• Spinning Takeover (Sitout hip toss)
• Freestyle / Protoplex (Swinging fisherman suplex)
• Throwback (Modified neck snap)
• Spinebuster
• Top-Rope Crossbody
• DDT
• Snap suplex
• Twisting Belly-to-Belly Suplex (Twisting belly to belly suplex)
• Bulldog
• Powerslam

Signature illegal weapons

• Steel chain
• Brass knuckles
• Chain Gang pendant

Signature taunts

• Waving one hand in front of his face and saying "You can't see me."
• Pumping up his Reebok Pump sneakers.
• Putting his hands up while spreading them and putting his thumb sideways and his pinky up, meaning "Word Life".
• Occasionally freestyling on his opponents before his matches.
• Screaming "The Champ is Here!" (when he holds a championship)
• Spinning his spinner title championship belt.

Personal information

Cena's wrestling influences include Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and The Rock. Cena's father, also named John Cena, works in the pro wrestling business as New England independent wrestling announcer and manager Johnny Fabulous.

Championships and accomplishments

• Ohio Valley Wrestling

• 1-time OVW Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion, with Rico Constantino

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Most Improved Wrestler Award (2003)
• PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award (2004)
• PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award (2005)

• Ultimate Pro Wrestling

• 1-time UPW Champion

• World Wrestling Entertainment

• 2-time WWE Champion (current)
• 3-time WWE United States Champion

Championship succession

Footnotes

1. "College football career". shopping.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
2. "College academics". biography.ms. Retrieved January 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
3. "Wrestling triva before WWE". www.imdb.com. Retrieved January 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
4. "Cena still the champion due to disqualification". www.wwe.com. Retrieved January 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
5. "Cena to star in new movie, The Marine". columbiarecords.com. Retrieved January 31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

External links

• John Cena at IMDb
• WWE page
• Official Myspace page
• Cena Thuganomics (fansite)
• Cena Net (fansite)

• 1977 births
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• American bloggers
• American film actors
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