WWE superstar and legendary wrestler John Cena celebrates his 43rd birthday today! Cena has been one of the most iconic figures in WWE over the years and is a real force to reckon with in the business. Now, John Cena has moved on to acting in Hollywood films as well. We take a look at his illustrious career as well as the evolution of John Cena in the past 18 years. Pictures Courtesy/ WWE
Updated On: 2020-04-23 09:00 AM IST
John Cena, born John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. on April 23, 1977, is a WWE professional wrestler, rapper and an actor. He turns 43 today.
John Cena is unarguably the biggest WWE superstar of the 2000s and one of the biggest ever in WWE history.
John Cena was born in Newbury Massachusetts and has four other brothers.
After his college years, John Cena pursued a career in bodybuilding and also worked as a limousine driver.
John Cena has won a record 16 WWE World Championships equalling WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Besides that, John Cena is also a 5-time United States Champion, two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, two-time World Tag Team Champion.
John Cena has also won the Royal Rumble twice - 2008 and 2013 as well as the Money in the Bank in 2012.
John Cena has also used ring names such as Juan Cena, The Prototype and Mr. P during his wrestling career.
John Cena has many nicknames in WWE - The Champ. Doctor of Thuganomics and Cenation Leader, Chain Gang Soldier as well as The Face of WWE.
John Cena is one of the pioneers of WWE's Ruthless Aggression Era which began in 2002 following the Attitude Era.
John Cena became popular for his Vanilla Ice-like rapper image where he would foul-mouth his opponents or make a mockery out of them with his rhymes as Doctor of Thuganomics.
On June 27, 2002, John Cena made his WWE main roster debut when he challenged Kurt Angle to a match, but lost.
John Cena made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania XX when he won the United States Championship against Big Show.
At WrestleMania 21, John Cena defeated JBL to win his first WWE Championship.
John Cena went on to main event a total of five WrestleManias - 22, 23, 27, 28 and 29.
In picture: John Cena vs Triple H at WrestleMania 22
John Cena and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson faced each other in two back-to-back WrestleMania main events in 28 and 29 respectively. At WM 28 The Rock defeated Cena, but at WM 29, Cena defeated The Rock to become WWE champion in what was called a 'Passing the Torch' in WWE.
In picture: John Cena with The Rock backstage
John Cena and Edge have had one of the biggest rivalries in WWE and headlined many pay-per-views. Cena and Edge have faced each other a staggering 52 times.
In picture: John Cena in a match vs Edge
John Cena's other great rival has been Randy Orton. Cena and Orton have come a long way right from their days together back in Ultimate Pro Wrestling from 1999 to 2001. Cena and Orton have faced each other 120 times.
In picture: John Cena in a match vs Randy orton
John Cena and Brock Lesnar have both been termed as two of the biggest superstars in the 2010s. Cena and Lesnar have fought at many pay-per-views in WWE.
In picture: John Cena with Brock Lesnar
John Cena is the fifth wrestler with the most WWE matches in history with 1335.
John Cena has won the most matches in WWE history with a whopping total of 1731!
John Cena's signature moves in wrestling are the Attitude Adjustment (previously known as FU) and the STF (previously known as STFU)
John Cena achieved major fame during his years in WWE and praises by his fans but has also been criticised by a few for the push that he received as face of the company
John Cena has often shown his respect for the U.S. Army and Troops and has performed every annual year at Tribute for Troops.
John Cena was first married to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 to 2012.
John Cena began dating WWE Diva Nikki Bella in 2012. The couple were engaged in April 2017, when John Cena popped the question at WrestleMania 33 after their win over The Miz and Maryse.
Just a month before their scheduled wedding in May 2018, John Cena and Nikki Bella ended their engagement in April
After his split from Nikki Bella, John Cena has been in a relationship with Shay Shariatzadeh. Recently rumours of the couple being engaged also made the rounds.
John Cena made his acting debut in the 2006 movie The Marine. He went on to star in Hollywood films such as 12 Rounds, Legendary, The Reunion. However, his big break came in 2015 with supporting roles in Trainwreck, Daddy's Home. Cena starred in the Transformer spin-off Bumblebee, his most successful film to date.
John Cena's next release and unarguably his biggest film to date, F9, which is part of the Fast and Furious franchise was scheduled to release this year but has been pushed to April next year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Beyond WWE, John Cena has been one of the biggest contributors for it's Make-A-Wish Foundation with most wishes for those with illnesses.
John Cena's relationship with his fans is unreal. Over the past 18 years, Cena has developed a vibrant and enigmatic relationship with the WWE Universe and while some love him and some may hate him, he is considered the most impactful wrestler of the past two decades.
