Cena was born April 23, 1977 in West Newbury, Massachusetts. After graduating from Cushing Academy, Cena attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. In college he was a Division III All-American center on the football team. He graduated from Springfield in 1998 with a degree in exercise physiology.

In his WWE career, Cena has been a multiple World Champion. He has also been a multiple United States Champion, and a multiple World Tag Team Champion. He also won the 2008 Royal Rumble. Before being promoted to the main WWE roster, Cena trained in and wrestled for Ultimate Pro Wrestling and Ohio Valley Wrestling, holding the top titles of both promotions.

Outside of wrestling, Cena has starred in the movie The Marine, made appearances on television shows including Manhunt, Deal or No Deal, MADtv, and Punk'd, and was a contestant on Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race.