“He is among the strongest guys I’ve stepped within the ring [with],” Orton informed his hometown St. Louis Put up-Dispatch in 2009. “Pound for pound, I feel he’s the strongest. The best way he trains, his self-discipline, he retains getting higher yearly.”
Cena all the time maintained it’s an sincere physique. “I by no means have tried steroids, however regardless of how a lot I say that, no person is gonna consider it, so I’ve given up,” he stated in WWE Unscripted. “I’ve been accused of taking anabolics since I used to be 16. As a matter of reality, I had a urinalysis in prep college as a result of I went from about 150 kilos to 225 in a matter of like six months.”
Come 2004, Cena was within the WWE essential occasion image, profitable the world titles on each manufacturers on quite a few events. In a labored sport—by no means name it “pretend” in entrance of wrestling followers—he holds probably the most world championship title reigns at 17 (14 WWE championships and three World Heavyweight championships in case you are counting), and solely simply grew to become the twenty fifth individual to finish a WWE Grand Slam, that means he’s gained each title obtainable.
Within the age of sports activities leisure, followers by no means felt obliged to cheer for the hero just because he’s the hero—and this was within the PG period of WWE, having moved previous the groundbreaking impolite, crude Perspective Period of the late ‘90s and 2000s. Because the villains tried so exhausting to be well-liked, and promote their very own merchandise, Cena had a polarizing impact on the WWE fan base. Many ladies and kids adored him, shrieking and celebrating his each transfer and catchphrase; others had a extra advanced response, typically refusing to wholeheartedly help Cena.
“Any response is a good response. That’s what you’re on the market for—to get a response, whether or not it’s constructive, adverse, or in between,” stated former WWE agent Gerry Brisco. “He’s doing his job. He’s getting you concerned in it, whether or not you boo him or cheer him.”
In 2018, Cena acquired the Sports activities Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his many charitable efforts, together with visiting U.S. troops, anti-bullying, and preventing most cancers. However the true salute goes to his neverending help of the Make-A-Want Basis historical past, and he was the primary to grant 500 needs and that quantity continues to climb.
