John Felix Anthony Cena is a retired American professional wrestler and actor who was signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2001 until his retirement. Over more than two decades, he became the defining star of WWE’s modern era, setting the company-recognized record with 17 world championship reigns. Cena wrestled his final match on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII, where he was defeated by Gunther, officially closing his in-ring career. Cena moved to California in 1998 with the goal of pursuing bodybuilding before transitioning into professional wrestling the following year. He debuted in Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) and signed with WWE in 2001, spending time in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he won the OVW Heavyweight Championship and the Southern Tag Team Championship. After joining WWE’s main roster in 2002, Cena broke out with a trash-talking rapper persona before reinventing himself in 2005 as the company’s long-term top babyface. He went on to headline major events and accumulate 17 world championships, including 13 WWE Championship reigns and three World Heavyweight Championship reigns, along with multiple United States and tag team title reigns, two Royal Rumble victories, and a Money in the Bank win. He headlined WrestleMania six times and maintained the longest uninterrupted run as a top babyface in WWE history. Outside of wrestling, Cena built a successful acting career, beginning with The Marine and later earning praise for roles in Trainwreck, Blockers, and Bumblebee. He became a major franchise presence in the Fast & Furious series with F9 and Fast X, and gained widespread recognition portraying Peacemaker in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and its HBO spin-off series Peacemaker, based on DC Comics. Cena also released the rap album You Can't See Me in 2005, which debuted in the top 20 on the Billboard 200. Beyond entertainment, he is known for his extensive charitable work, particularly with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, for which he has granted more wishes than any individual in the organization’s history.
