There’s no argument for the fact that John Cena is one of the GOATs when it comes to in-ring performers. However, that wasn’t exactly what led to him getting signed with WWE. It was the yoked-up physique he possessed, thanks to his competitive bodybuilding background. So, one wouldn’t be wrong to say that Big Match John is well acquainted with weightlifting. While expressing his thoughts on the NFL combine, John Cena once slammed one of its strength assessment tests.
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In an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2017, the WWE Icon discussed one of his gym videos. The 2015 clip, that John Cena posted on Twitter, saw him doing a bench press of 463lb. Interestingly, the top calculated bench press for that year’s NFL combine was 473lb.
At this years @NFL combine top calculated bench press was 473lb. 38 yrs old, this is 463 #NGU @TapouT @sportscenter pic.twitter.com/Lvtt2nnFZE
— John Cena (@JohnCena) October 28, 2015
John Cena felt the “bench press for reps test” at the NFL combine was worthless
During the conversation, the host asked John Cena about his chances in the NFL solely based on his combine skills. The WWE icon stated he would even make it to the draft. He then talked about what he liked and disliked about the combine tests.
John Cena admitted he likes a lot of tests that the NFL conducts at the combine. Be it agility, sprint, or vertical jump, all of that was fun. However, the one thing he hated was bench presses for the reps test.
According to John Cena, that was the most worthless test the NFL had at the combine. The Cenation Leader claimed he has enough knowledge when it comes to strength and fitness. He even went on to call upper body reps for a segregated weight a horrible thing.
John Cena then called the NFL and asked them to improve the strength assessment at the combine because the one they have is not good. He stated:
“I love a lot of the tests in the [NFL] Combine. I hate the bench press for reps test, I think it’s the most worthless test of skill that they have at the Combine… Step your game up with the strength assessment, NFL. It’s not a good one.”
The wrestler-turned-Hollywood star hasn’t appeared on WWE television since WrestleMania 39
Nowadays, John Cena is a part-time WWE star and a full-time Hollywood actor, which means, his in-ring appearances will be rarer. Last year, WWE featured him in just one match, and that too, a tag team one.
However, Big Match John did appear at WrestleMania 39 where he kicked off Night 1 by fighting Austin Theory. John Cena challenged the rising star from RAW for the US Title but failed to win.
Since then, fans haven’t seen the 16-time WWE champion in the ring or, for that matter, on WWE TV. There are rumors that the company intends to bring him back for Night of Champions next month. Though as of yet, there has been no such indication from WWE’s side.
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