article-img

Tracing American Heartthrob John Cena’s incredible WWE career

1 years ago By Sports Desk

John Cena embarked on his journey to become a wrestler in 1999 when he started training at the “Ultimate University” operated by Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) in California. Initially, he portrayed a semi-robotic character named The Prototype. His early career was featured in the Discovery Channel program called Inside Pro Wrestling School. Cena held the UPW Heavyweight Championship for almost a month in April 2000. 

The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) signed him from UPW in 2001, placing him under a developmental contract and sending him to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), their developmental territory, to continue his training. In OVW, Cena wrestled under the names The Prototype and Mr. P, winning the Heavyweight Championship and Tag Team Championship (with Rico Constantino).

Cena’s Rise in the WWE

Cena’s first televised match in WWE took place on June 27, 2002, in response to an open challenge by Kurt Angle. Inspired by a speech from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, where he encouraged young talents to display “ruthless aggression,” Cena impressed by almost defeating Angle but ultimately lost. Following this, he became a fan favorite (face) and engaged in a rivalry with Chris Jericho, defeating him in an upset at Vengeance. Cena later formed a tag team with Billy Kidman but turned heel (villainous) and attacked Kidman after a loss. He then adopted a rapper gimmick and began cutting promos in rhyme. Cena’s popularity grew as he showcased his rapping skills, and he was joined by enforcer Bull Buchanan, later replaced by Rodney Mack.

In early 2004, Cena participated in the Royal Rumble match, making it to the final six before being eliminated by Big Show. This led to a feud between Cena and Big Show, resulting in Cena winning the WWE United States Championship from him at WrestleMania XX. During his reign, Cena clashed with SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle and was involved in issues with René Duprée and Torrie Wilson. Cena lost the title due to an incident with Angle and later regained it by defeating Booker T in a “best of five” series. However, he lost it to Carlito Caribbean Cool and feuded with him. Cena suffered a kayfabe injury, keeping him out of action while he filmed his debut movie, The Marine. Upon his return, he regained the US title from Carlito and introduced a custom-made spinner-style title belt.

Cena continued his rise in 2005, participating in the Royal Rumble and making it to the final two with Batista. The match ended controversially, leading to a rematch that Batista ultimately won. Cena then faced Kurt Angle and earned a spot in the WrestleMania 21 main event, initiating a feud with WWE Champion John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL). Cena defeated JBL at WrestleMania, capturing his first world title in WWE. Their rivalry continued, and Cena reclaimed the original WWE Championship belt in an “I Quit” match at Judgment Day.

Cena’s impact off the ring

Beyond his wrestling career, Cena has been involved in various endeavors outside the ring. He has showcased his musical talents as a rapper, releasing his debut album “You Can’t See Me” in 2005. The album succeeded commercially and featured his entrance theme song, “The Time Is Now,” which became his signature tune.

Cena has pursued an acting career and has appeared in several films. His debut came in 2006 with the action film “The Marine,” followed by roles in movies such as “Trainwreck,” “Daddy’s Home 2,” and “Bumblebee.”

Cena’s list of championships and accomplishments in WWE is extensive. He has won the WWE Championship a record 13 times, the World Heavyweight Championship three times, and has held numerous other titles, including the United States Championship, Tag Team Championship, and Money in the Bank contract.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
More Recommendations
Unlock a World of Endless Discoveries: Your Personalized Recommendation Engine
article-image

The world of professional wrestling has always been marked by its constant evolution, and in recent years, the emergence of… Read More

1 years ago Jhon Woug
article-image

Wrestling enthusiasts, brace yourself! Wrestlemania 40 is around the corner and ensures not less than unforgettable plots made of breath-taking… Read More

1 years ago Jhon Woug
article-image

The realm of professional wrestling is no stranger to twists and turns, especially when it comes to blockbuster matchups. John… Read More

1 years ago Jhon Woug
article-image

2023 has continued the tradition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as a place where fresh talent can flourish. Fans… Read More

1 years ago Jhon Woug
article-image

Professional wrestling is a global phenomenon with its largest player in the form of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The global… Read More

1 months ago Jhon Woug
article-image

The world of professional wrestling is known for its ever-changing alliances, and recent events have caused a stir amongst fans…. Read More

1 years ago Jhon Woug
Stories Going Viral
Unleashing the Power of Stories
article-image

The world of professional wrestling received a big shake several days ago when All Elite Wrestling reported the dismissal of CM Punk. A committee… Read More

1 years ago Sports Desk
article-image

In a surprising turn of events, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio made an unexpected appearance on this week’s NXT… Read More

1 years ago Sports Desk
article-image

Mandy Rose is a name etched when one talks about glamor, athleticism, and perseverance. Well, the queen of it all… Read More

8 months ago Jhon Woug
article-image

Michelle Leigh McCool was born on January 25, 1980, in Palatka, Florida. Michelle McCool is an American retired wrestler whose… Read More

2 months ago Jhon Woug
article-image

The wrestling universe is excited as AEW has officially released the line-up for its upcoming Rampage Grand Slam event on… Read More

1 years ago Sports Desk
article-image

Colby Covington is not a fan of Jon Jones. ‘Chaos’ recently weighed in on the highly-anticipated UFC 295 card and… Read More

1 years ago Sports Desk
Join Our Exclusive Newsletter and Stay in the Loop!
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x