John Cena has revealed that he distanced himself from the film industry following his early acting roles with WWE Studios. While Cena is now a prominent Hollywood figure in 2025, known for projects like DC’s “Peacemaker,” “Fast and Furious,” and “Heads of State,” his initial movie career in the mid-to-late 2000s didn’t help his reputation in Hollywood. On The Joe Rogan Experience, Cena shared that he wasn’t fully committed to his early roles, beginning with the 2006 film “The Marine,” which was challenging and uninspiring for him. Cena explained that WWE founder Vince McMahon created WWE Studios to turn wrestlers into movie stars to attract more fans to wrestling events, but Cena felt dispassionate about acting at the time. He described the grueling filming process and admitted his heart wasn’t in it, which showed in his performances. After starring in several poorly received films, Cena nearly quit acting altogether until a small role in the 2015 comedy “Trainwreck,” courtesy of Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer, helped revive his career. Besides “The Marine,” Cena also featured in other WWE Studios productions like “12 Rounds,” “Legendary,” and “The Reunion.”
Fan Take: This insight into Cena’s early struggles underscores how challenging the transition from wrestling to acting can be, even for top WWE stars. It’s encouraging for fans to see that perseverance and the right opportunities can open new avenues, reflecting WWE’s evolving role in entertainment beyond the ring.
