He’s enjoyed a lengthy career as one of the WWE’s all-time biggest stars, but where did John Cena grow up?
John Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, and would grow up in and around the state. He later attended Springfield College, also in Massachusetts.
Read on to learn more about John Cena’s early life and upbringing.
Strong Start
John Cena rose through the ranks in the WWE to become one of their most decorated stars. He headlined countless main events, and took part in some huge, iconic storylines. His wrestling acumen and confident persona made him an instant hit with the fans worldwide.
By 2020, he would be tied with the legendary Ric Flair for the most world championship reigns in the company’s history. He’s always held center-stage, and has built up a massive following and impressive legacy.
However, Cena wasn’t born into greatness or exuberant wealth. He was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts to a humble family, and would come to have four male siblings. His mother and father reportedly supported his upbringing and early interests in sport.
In fact, his parents’ support would continue in earnest long into his later life. There were iconic storylines in the WWE that directly featured his parents – namely his father. In 2007, Cena’s father became embroiled in a violent rivalry between Cena himself, and another wrestler, Randy Orton.
This rivalry culminated in Orton (fictitiously) attacking Cena’s father. The events unraveled so far that Cena’s father was pitted against Orton in a one on one match-up. These events were put to bed, but re-ignited in 2014 under similar circumstances.
Where sport was concerned, John Cena excelled. He played football in college and would come to join the NCAA Div III All-American squad. It can be argued that sport was in John Cena’s blood: his grandfather was Tony Lupien, an accomplished MLB player.
While Cena was in college (also in Massachusetts), he trained and worked as a professional bodybuilder. His field of study was physiology and body movement, furthering his knowledge of the sporting body. Over time, Cena would come to acquire an impressive physique, one he’d become known for.
Entering The Ring
John Cena became enveloped in the world of wrestling fairly young. He had been a fan of the sport since he was a child, but by twenty-two years of age, he’d be living it. In 1999, he’d have his first chance in the ring.
Although he didn’t begin with the WWE (then-WWF), he had his sights set firmly on it. He began training just before the millennium, and started trying to flesh out an entertaining persona. Initially, he opted for a character known as ‘The Prototype’. In this role, Cena would pretend to be a ‘cyborg’, or ‘robot’.
In 2000, Cena made his behind-closed-doors debut with the WWF. He fought in what was known as a ‘dark match’, wherein the bout wasn’t televised. The match wasn’t a great success, and Cena was pushed back for another tryout, early in 2001.
He entered a developmental phase with the WWF, and began working on his in-ring spirit. However, it would be just two years later that his official, televised debut would come, and history would start being made.
In the below video, you can see John Cena’s debut match-up, against Kurt Angle. Although Cena lost this match, it solidified him as a credible contender. It wouldn’t be long after that Cena was enjoying a string of success as he worked his way up to the championships.
John Cena would ultimately use his wrestling success to propel him ever further. He’d enter the world of movies, star on television shows, and use his influence for philanthropic ventures. As of 2020, Cena proudly boasted the most wishes granted in the history of the charity, Make-A-Wish.