You can’t know pop culture without knowing John Cena. The wrestler-turned-actor is approaching his wrestling retirement come Saturday, Dec. 13. He leaves behind a memorable legacy in the ring while creating a new one in Hollywood. 

The now 48-year-old was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts. He was a young fan of wrestling, influenced by his father, who was a ring announcer. 

At 12 years old, Cena asked for a weightlifting bench after being bullied. It seems that the foundation of his beliefs to keep fighting were being established early. By high school, he was already a gym rat and deeply athletic. He later went to Springfield College, where he graduated with a degree in exercise physiology and became captain of the football team.

Freshly graduated, Cena aspired to be a bodybuilder. That career was brief, though, as he was approached to take wrestling classes at Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW). Soon enough, he pivoted his career towards wrestling. Cena won the UPW Heavyweight Championship as “The Prototype” – his first major wrestling character. He quickly gained interest from WWE executives and signed a developmental contract with the company in 2001.

His official debut was in 2002, where he first signed with the “Smackdown” roster. Despite gaining some attention at first when going head-to-head with Kurt Angle, Cena’s character grew flat, and he was at risk of being fired. In a delightful twist, then then-CEO of WWE Vince McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, heard Cena rapping on a tour bus one day. Impressed, she convinced her father to keep Cena and give him a new rapper persona. This character was known as the “Doctor of Thuganomics,” and the rest was history.

After gaining a greater fanbase, becoming a “babyface” (a good guy or a hero-type character in wrestling) and winning the United States Championship in 2004, he was on the path to greatness. He cemented his role as the face of the company in 2005 when he won his first WWE Championship.

Here, the Cena we all know was born. The jorts, the “You can’t see me!” with the wave of a hand, the trumpets and, of course, the never giving up. 

Now, Cena’s fanbase is even larger, extending through generations. He holds the record for most Make-A-Wish’s granted and is a record-breaking 17-time WWE World Champion.

Cena broadened his audience even more when he became an actor. He is best known for his roles in “Peacemaker” and the “Fast and the Furious” movies. Acting has become a priority for Cena and is likely where his future endeavors lie.

Cena announced his WWE retirement in July 2024 and revealed a retirement tour that has lasted through 2025. His last match will be at “Saturday Night’s Main Event” on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Washington, D.C.

For as long as I can remember, I have watched Cena on my screen, winning title after title. He was, and still is, my Superman. 

Cena has created so many core memories for people around the world, making his last match difficult for fans. His work ethic and passion for the business is what makes him so easy to latch onto, it feels impossible to imagine a wrestling world without Cena in it.

There is no doubt Cena is a future hall of famer. When you think of professional wrestling, his name is sure to grace your mind, and it’ll be that way forever. Many will try, but there will never be another like John Cena. Soak up these final moments while we can experience him in that ring, before he takes his final bow.