Did John Cena serve in the military? Wrestling legend's patriotic persona explained
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But did the 16-time World Champion actually serve in the armed forces?
The truth about John Cena's military service
Despite the strong association, John Cena has never served in the United States military. The confusion stems from both his in-ring character and his own public admiration for the armed forces. During an appearance on the Club Shay Shay YouTube channel, Cena revealed that he was seriously considering joining the military before his wrestling career began.
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He shared, 'The weekend I was going to go from Los Angeles to San Diego to go join, my buddy was like, 'Hey man, you know, we are training to be wrestlers down in Orange County. You wanna try it out before you go?'' That chance moment changed the trajectory of his life, leading him into professional wrestling instead of the Marines.
Cena's connection with the military didn't end with that decision. In 2006, he starred in the film The Marine, a role that influenced the evolution of his WWE character.
From then on, Cena began to wear military-style gear, use salutes in his entrances, and speak frequently about values like honor, loyalty, and respect.
In an
, he once explained: 'Every night when I do that salute, it's also a sign of respect to the men and women that don the uniform of the Armed Forces.' He also credited his catchphrase - 'Hustle, Loyalty, Respect' - to the values he admired in military culture.
Cena became a fixture in WWE's Tribute to the Troops shows, a tradition that began in 2003.
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Except for 2004, Cena appeared at every event through 2014, often taking center stage and portraying a patriotic hero. These appearances further cemented his image as a military man in the eyes of fans.
Even outside the ring, Cena has starred in several military-themed films like The Wall and continued to express support for U.S. troops through various initiatives.
While John Cena never officially served, his actions both in and out of the ring have earned him a unique place as one of WWE's most patriotic figures. He may not have worn a real uniform, but for millions of fans, he's always been a soldier at heart.
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