The last time I paid any attention to wrestling was as a kid, watching Bobo Brazil on TV from the Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. Look it up.
So I was more than a little surprised to find myself becoming a fan of one of wrestling’s biggest stars and best ambassadors: John Cena.
I honestly don’t remember when I first came across Cena, but it wasn’t in the ring. It was as an actor, and he was genuinely good. Not only does he have real acting chops, he also has terrific comic timing, as anyone who watched him play Sammy Fak on The Bear can tell you.
Whenever I saw him on late-night talk shows, he also came across as refreshingly humble. No oversized ego. No "look at me" energy. Just a guy comfortable enough in his own skin to laugh at himself.
But what impressed me most, and I think it’s because it’s in such short supply these days, was his heart.
Cena has granted more wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation than anyone in history: more than 650 for critically and terminally ill children. Watch a few clips online and you'll see he always makes time for fans, especially kids. He's built like a superhero, but he's never been afraid to show vulnerability or admit he's still a work in progress.
What really sealed it for me was a video from a fan convention. A cancer survivor told Cena his "Never Give Up" mantra is what helped him through the darkest days of treatment, then asked if he could have a hug. Cena didn't hesitate for a second.
It wasn't staged. It wasn't performative. It was just a genuinely kind human moment.
At a time when the loudest voices like Pete Kegsbreath (please pass the testosterone), alledged alpha males and dipshits in the manosphere are selling toxic masculinity and seem to think compassion is a character flaw, it's refreshing, bordering on revolutionary, to see someone like Cena set a different example. Strength doesn't have to mean arrogance. Confidence doesn't require cruelty. Young men could do a whole lot worse than looking up to someone who treats kindness as a strength instead of a weakness.
Of course, if I'm being completely honest, there are still a few people in Washington, D.C. I'd happily pay to see him body slam.
