BOSTON – John Cena has revealed his all-time favorite opponents.
“I have a few wrestling soulmates,” said Cena. “Those are Randy Orton, Edge, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles. But gosh, I can’t take any shine away from Cody Rhodes – add him, too.”
Only a week removed from his modern-day classic against Rhodes at SummerSlam, Cena came to Boston after wrestling on WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown in Montreal. No longer WWE Champion after dropping the belt to Rhodes, Cena spent Saturday in Boston as the people’s champion, signing autographs and conducting a Q&A at the Fan Expo in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
With his retirement from WWE looming – his final match is scheduled to be this December in Boston – Cena explained why immediately is the right time to finish his pro wrestling career.
“I feel a little bit slower,” said Cena, 48. “I’m not as strong as I was. I look at all the current superstars, and they’ve earned the right to chase their dreams. For me, it’s time.”
Of course, Cena also touched on the buzz surrounding his final opponent, which is likely to be Brock Lesnar. True to form, Cena intends to keep people guessing for as long as humanly possible.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years, and I’ve never once chosen my opponent,” said Cena. “I’ve always lived by the philosophy that life will give you opportunities every single day, and you have to do the best you can every single day with what life gives you. So whoever challenges me for that last match, I’m going to give it my best shot.”
The wrestler-turned-actor from West Newbury has traveled the globe, but still relishes his trips home. That includes the chance to eat some home cooking, which he prefers to do on Route 1 in Saugus.
“My favorite restaurant, that’s the Kowloon,” said Cena. “Have you ever heard a scorpion bowl there? It’s incredible. Kowloon is amazing.”
In addition to his farewell run in WWE, Cena is active on-screen. Beginning Aug. 21, he will play the starring role on Peacemaker, which airs on HBO Max. He has created a highlight reel that continues to need more storage space, yet pro wrestling holds an especially special place in his heart. He still considers one specific moment to be his most significant – and, naturally, it took place in Boston at TD Garden.
“I was on the road to WrestleMania with The Rock,” said Cena, referring to an episode of Monday Night Raw from March 2012. “And Rock is one of a kind – he’s in his own universe, and I’m talking for real. The Dwayne Johnson-verse. It’s his planet, and you’re kind of just watching. And he comes back, and we had a bunch of time on the mic in Boston.
“I have to admit – you guys [in Boston] didn’t like very much. And I get it, I was out there with the friggin’ Rock. But they allowed me to speak as one of them. And in a matter of 15 minutes, everything changed. I’ll never forget that energy shift. It’s my favorite moment in that building.”
As Cena wraps up a legendary run in WWE, he is even more determined to make a lasting impression in Hollywood. But he refuses to forget who he is – or where he came from. A life-changing experience happened just outside of Boston, helping transform Cena into the man he is today.
“Walking into Hard Nocks Gym in Amesbury, that changed my life,” said Cena. “I met Dave Nocks, and he encouraged me to work my very hardest. At the age of 15, I needed a father figure and a mentor, and Dave was very influential in building the values of who I am. I’m forever for Hard Nocks Gym and Dave Nocks.”
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