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John Cena’s Hollywood career nearly ended before it ever truly got off the ground.
The WWE legend admitted he once “ran out of the movie business” because he simply didn’t care enough about acting, revealing that his heart remained in the wrestling ring as he struggled to embrace the slower pace of life on a film set.
Cena reflected on the rocky start to a Hollywood career that would eventually include roles in “The Suicide Squad,” the “Fast & Furious” franchise and “Peacemaker” during an appearance on the “TODAY” show.
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John Cena admitted Hollywood once “ran” him out of the movie business after he struggled to embrace acting while his heart remained in professional wrestling. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
“It’s been a long journey,” he explained. “I think that’s the important one. People think things happen overnight. Those early projects – truth be told – I didn’t have my heart into.”
For Cena, his priorities were elsewhere.
“As a young 20-something, God, traveling the world, being out in front of tens of thousands of people every night going nuts and then doing it night after night, that’s where I wanted to be and that’s where I felt comfortable and fluent,” he said, referencing his successful career in the WWE.
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John Cena eventually found success with roles in “The Suicide Squad,” the “Fast & Furious” franchise and “Peacemaker” after developing a new passion for acting. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Cena described working on a film set as “super patient” and “super slow.”
“I just didn’t have the wisdom for the process,” he claimed.
But Hollywood apparently had little patience for Cena’s lack of enthusiasm.
“I got ran out of the movie business for not caring and that’s justifiably so,” he added. “If you don’t care about something, give somebody the opportunity that does.”
Cena began his acting career with roles in movies such as “The Marine” and “12 Rounds.” However, Cena didn’t see success until the 2010s with roles in “Trainwreck,” “Blockers” and “The Suicide Squad.” He’s said his role as Peacemaker in the DC Extended Universe changed his life. The 2021 movie has since been turned into a TV series.
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John Cena credited self-reflection and personal growth with helping him earn a second chance in Hollywood before officially retiring from WWE in 2025. (Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)
Cena also joined the “Fast and Furious” franchise in 2021, playing Vin Diesel’s character’s brother in “Fast 9: The Fast Saga” and “Fast X.” The actor later made a cameo in “Barbie” in 2023, and starred in the Hulu original movies “Vacation Friends” plus “Vacation Friends 2.”
But after years of finding his footing in Hollywood, Cena said his attitude toward acting couldn’t be more different today.
“I’m now super passionate about what I do and that’s everything from filming to sitting here talking about this movie with you guys, and I’m so lucky to be given a second chance,” he said. “And that took 20 years to craft.”
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John Cena gained fame as a pro wrestler before transitioning into acting. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
The “TODAY” hosts also highlighted Cena’s self-awareness as he reflected on how much he has changed over the years.
“Man, I think there’s nothing wrong with taking inventory of yourself, looking in the mirror, loving yourself for your strengths and your flaws and trying to work to be better than you were yesterday,” he said.
Cena began his WWE career in 2002 on “Smackdown!” as “The Prototype,” eventually transforming into his rapper persona, the “Doctor of Thuganomics.”
Throughout his career, Cena has won a record-breaking 17 WWE world championships. He officially retired in 2025.
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