He then led the company as its franchise player and public face for the next decade.Ī joint-record 16-time world champion, Cena has won the WWE Championship thirteen times, a record for the title. The next year, he won the WWE Championship for the first time, and his character subsequently transitioned into a clean-cut 'Superman-like' hero. He won his first singles title, the United States Championship, in 2004. He gained fame in the WWE after adopting the persona of a trash-talking rapper. He signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 2001, where he was initially assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He transitioned to professional wrestling in 1999 when he debuted for Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW).
Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he is tied with Ric Flair for the most world championship reigns in professional wrestling history.īorn and raised in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena moved to California in 1998 to pursue a career as a bodybuilder. is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former rapper currently signed to WWE.
