John Cena entered the WWE ring with Travis Scott and The Rock on Saturday (March 1), appearing at the end of the Elimination Chamber premium live event in Toronto. The viral event, which included the Cactus Jack rapper delivering a hard slap to WWE undisputed champion Cody Rhodes, dominated the internet. The match-up was also attended by Drake and Lil Yachty, and added yet another notch to Cena’s hip-hop belt.
The showdown served as a reminder of Cena’s surprisingly deep ties to hip-hop. Cena became a rapper in the early 2000s as part of his persona in the wrestling world: Known for his “Never Give Up” catchphrase and heavy lock and chain necklace, Cena embraced hip-hop culture in numerous ways, dropping motivational freestyle raps and even a Billboard 200-charting album. He garnered notable co-signs from some of rap’s biggest stars, and even linked with a few to make some actual music. Cena’s foray into the genre was short-lived, and he’s since pivoted away from his rap persona into acting and other ventures. Still, Saturday’s match-up was a reminder that Cena and hip-hop culture can easily co-exist when the time is right.
Over the years, he’s talked extensively about his deep love of rap, telling Club Shay Shay last year that the music found him at the perfect time.
“I was one of five boys, and I had a lot of angst with how the household was being run,” he said. “I was a rebel. That music found me at the right time. So, even though a song like ‘F—k tha Police’ might have been an anthem for the state of the social well-being in South Central Los Angeles — to a 13-year-old kid, the police are my parents, and it was me who was like, ‘Well, f—k that.’”
Here is a look back at some of John Cena’s biggest moments in rap, which include his notable attendance of the VH1 Hip-Hop Awards, that time he rapped on a 9th Wonder beat alongside Murs, and of course when he freestyle in Mandarin.
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John Cena Reveals ‘Doctor of Thuganomics’ Persona
It all started when John Cena revealed his Doctor of Thuganomics persona in 2002 during his time in WWE’s OVW. The brash character, which was a mix of a braggadocious rapper and arrogant antagonist, debuted on SmackDown! in June of 2022. Cena made a name for himself very quickly in the WWE world due to his penchant for freestyling. His most iconic moment came when he dropped some incendiary bars against Kurt Angle, including, “How am I gonna get out-battled by a wannabe Kojack?”
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John Cena Drops Debut Rap Album ‘You Can’t See Me’
John Cena lit up the rap world when he dropped off his debut (and to date only) rap album, You Can’t See Me, on May 10, 2005. The surprisingly versatile rap record ended up charting at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA. The album’s lead single, “The Time Is Now,” forever became associated with Cena’s WWE persona, and the wrestling world as a whole. The song’s popularity has not waned either, and currently has over 15 million streams on Spotify.
Cena recently reflected on the single’s success in an interview on Club Shay Shay back in 2024.
“At the time, WWE was a rock and roll company,” he told host Shannon Sharpe. “They didn’t have any depth of field for hip-hop, and I listened to my own music being like, ‘I could do better than this.’ I called up a friend who knew a friend who had a studio. We got some beats and we made an album. And that was it.”
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John Cena Attends the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors
As part of the promotion for his debut rap album You Can’t See Me, Cena attended the 2005 VH1 Hip Hop Honors as part of his crossover into rap. At the event, Cena performed his hit single “The Time Is Now,” and got some serious support from rap legends like Snoop Dogg.
“This is Big Snoop Dogg on the WWE, and if y’all really want somebody to get their a— kicked, run up on my nephew right here,” Snoop Dogg told red carpet reporters alongside Cena. Jazzy Jeff also commended Cena’s “cross-platforming” and Ice-T gave him a shout out as well. The moment marked a serious achievement for Cena, who was viewed as a hip-hop outsider at the time.
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John Cena Raps on “H.U.S.T.L.E.” With Murs and 9th Wonder
Cena got the ultimate rap co-sign when he hopped on a 9th Wonder beat alongside Murs in 2006. “H.U.S.T.L.E.”, which appeared on the album Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition, gave the WWE superstar an undeniable amount of credibility in the rap space. Together, Murs and Cena trade bars about their grind and determination to make it to the top, and the moment showed haters that Cena’s foray into rap was more than just a statistical characteristic of Doctor Thuganomics. The collaboration was well received by both fans of wrestling and rap music, and cemented Cena as an authentic ally of hip-hop.
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John Cena Freestyles in Mandarin
There are tons of great John Cena freestyles to choose from, but none are as impressive as the time he rapped in Mandarin. Cena had been learning Mandarin for several years, as part of his work with WWE’s global brand, and demonstrated his skills during a segment on WWE Raw in 2016. The short freestyle highlighted Cena’s dedication to connecting with his international fans in China, and showed his willingness to embrace multiple cultures.
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John Cena Sides With Travis Scott and The Rock
Let’s not forget John Cena’s stunning heel turn at WWE’s Elimination Chamber event just this past weekend. In Toronto, Cena aligned with Travis Scott and The Rock to unleash a serious beatdown on WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The surprising alliance, which included a viral slap from La Flame, again demonstrated Cena’s longtime support for rappers. While Cena wouldn’t discuss the shocking moment at the match’s press conference, The Rock commended Scott for his involvement.
“He wanted to get his hands bloody,” The Rock said of the Utopia star. “I whispered to him as he was going out. I said, ‘If you’re gonna get your hands bloody, make it count.’ He slapped the s—t of Cody tonight. He was really, really hyped up.”
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