It’s no secret that WWE has strong ties with the military. Time and again, the company has organized shows dedicated to those who serve and protect the US nation. The first-ever Tribute to the Troops event was held in 2003. If there is one WWE superstar that resonates with the US military the most, it is John Cena. From his famous salute gesture to his catchphrase, Hustle. Loyalty. Respect, John Cena aims to exude his in-ring persona in the same vein as the US military. The leader of the Cenation made his debut in 2002 as a rookie in wrestling trunks and challenged WWE’s legitimate wrestling machine, Kurt Angle.
After a floundering early run in the company, Cena was on the verge of getting released. However, he turned the tables and became the company’s biggest star in the years to come. His love for the military distinguishes his character from the other superstars. His gestures and style in the ring led the fans to speculate if Cena was in the US military before he became a wrestler.
Was John Cena in the Military?
Although John Cena exudes ex-army vibes, he was never in the military. But everything he does is out of respect for the troops. Before wrestling, John Cena was a bodybuilder. In 2006, John Cena dropped his gimmick as the “Doctor of Thugonomics” and showed up in camouflage shorts and dog tags.
This was after WWE Studios produced the movie The Marine, which featured John Cena as the main star. Cena played the role of a US Marine who pursued a gang of criminals who had abducted his wife.
Interestingly, Cena was not the first pick for the role. Before Cena, WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin was offered to play the part. After Austin repudiated the offer, ex-marine Randy Orton was the next pick. However, Orton was pulled back from starring in the movie due to his checkered military career. Ultimately, the sixteen-time World Champion was offered the role. This was also John Cena’s first leg in the movie industry.
John Cena has featured in two movies related to the armed forces
The wrestler-turned-actor has currently stepped aside from his in-ring career to sink his teeth into Hollywood full tilt. John Cena is currently the main star of HBO’s Max Series Peacemaker. In addition, Cena is involved in multiple film projects.
Aside from landing the role of a US marine in the 2006 film The Marine, John Cena played the role of “Sergeant Shane Matthews” in the movie The Wall. In the movie, Matthews and his comrade Issac are pitted against a sniper in a deserted site in Iraq during a war.
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