This is Massachusetts Native John Cena’s One Rule for Make-A-Wish Visits
West Newbury, Massachusetts, native John Cena isn’t world-famous for his triumphs in the squared circle. The future WWE Hall of Famer is also recognized as a record-breaking Make-A-Wish Foundation ambassador.
But as it turns out, Cena uses the same motto for his Make-A-Wish visits as he does in the ring: “You can’t see me.”
In a recent interview on the Something to Wrestle podcast with Bruce Prichard, Prichard – a longtime WWE creative executive – revealed that Cena doesn’t actually want much of the attention he’s gotten for his Make-A-Wish grants, hence his one rule:
“John hated doing a Make-a-Wish if there was press of any kind involved. Even (WWE) people. John would always insist… ‘(The patients’) wish wasn’t to be surrounded by cameras and press. Their wish was to meet me. And they’re gonna get an experience with me. A one-on-one experience with me. And, I’m not doing it for publicity. I’m not doing it to have people say what a great guy I am. I’m doing it because a dying child asked to meet me.’ That’s John Cena.”
Prichard added that it was “a battle” to get Cena to acknowledge the visits at all.
In the same episode, Prichard noted how Cena’s open-mindedness also launched his film career, when he stepped up at the last minute to star in a movie that was written for another, big-name WWE legend (and no, it’s not The Rock).
Most recently, Cena lent his voice to the animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Before that, Cena made headlines by wearing a custom pair of Nikes inspired by a beloved New England restaurant at WrestleMania.