John Cena

John Cena, born John Felix Anthony Cena on April 23, 1977, is an American actor, former professional wrestler and former rapper who is signed to WWE as a brand ambassador. He began wrestling in 1999, signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 2001 and started in its developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling before debuting on the main roster on SmackDown in 2002. He rose to prominence as a brash heel rapper and then became the company franchise player from the mid 2000s to the mid 2010s. He wrestled for WWE for 24 years and became a record 17-time world champion, holding the WWE Championship a record 14 times, and he won the Royal Rumble twice. His run as a face from 2003 to 2025 was the longest continuous portrayal of a heroic character in WWE history, and he retired from wrestling in 2025 to focus on acting.