John Cena is a big fan of Dayton. After all, it’s where he regained his World Wrestling Entertainment U.S. championship a few years back.
Cena now holds the WWE world title belt. In pro wrestling, that’s huge, just like the former college football player’s biceps. And if you were wondering, that belt weighs a good 20 pounds.
Cena, who also is known for his rap music, will be one of the headliners at a big show Wednesday at the Nutter Center. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native was in town Friday, greeting members of the Chain Gang (his fans) and talking some trash.
Cena realizes that some people actually think wrestling is fake (gasp), but he defends its entertainment value.
“Wrestling probably is, dollar for dollar, the best money you can spend on entertainment. … We give you the brutal physicality of the best athletes in the business going at it. At the same time, we make you laugh and cry. We tell you a story. We make it a fun experience for everybody. It’s got the energy of a live rock concert and the violence of a football game. Anybody who says what we do is fake, please spend a half-hour in the ring with me.”
Cena loves cars and has a big collection.
“My newest acquisition is a 1966 Dodge Charger 426 dualquad Hemi 4-speed. Beautiful car. Besides wrestling, cars are my passion. I’m a big fan of those late ’60s, early ’70s muscle cars.”
Cena said he’s never taken steroids and supports the WWE’s stance.
“WWE has just installed its drug and wellness policy because it has had issues with that. Now, as a company, we have the same substance-abuse police as the NFL and NBA. If you’re caught once, 30-day suspension. Caught twice, 60-day suspension. Caught three times, you no longer have a job.”
It may surprise you to know that Cena enjoys old-school country music. He got hooked after listening to Johnny Cash.
“I know country music has grown by leaps and bounds and become about as showy as the WWE, but I still think that older twangy sound, even Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson, the music is so great.”
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