How Strong is John Cena? Decoding His Unmatched Power!

John Felix Antony Cena is a living legend in the world of professional Wrestling. He’s got more championship wins than you can count. John Cena is not just about the ring. He’s a total icon in the entertainment world. Born and brought up in Massachusetts, along with his three brothers, John’s childhood was all about lifting weights and getting into bodybuilding.

He ultimately took up the sport during the later years of his school while studying in a private institution. After graduating from Springfield College, Cena eventually moved to Los Angeles to start his career in the field of sports.

Before his big break, he worked as a security guard and limo driver for sustenance. He made his first inroad into entertainment wrestling in 2000 as The Prototype. The big break, however, came in 2005, when Cena emerged as a hulking newbie in World Wrestling Entertainment with his “ruthless aggression” against Kurt Angle^[1].

In the realm of wrestling, Cena amassed a huge fan following as the 4-time World Tag champion, 16-time World Champion, and a record 13-time WWE Champion. Additionally, he also impressed in some other avenues like Hollywood, having starred in multiple films and series like The Marine, Peacemaker, Barbie, and Fast and Furious 9.

However, Cena’s ability with the mic, his charisma, and his expansive move-set were only a part of why the wrestling legend was so quick to rise to the ranks. The majority of the success was because of his imposing figure, standing at around 184 centimeters with shredded muscles and a temper to run from.

When he lifted both Big Show and Edge (combined weight of around 700 pounds) at Wrestlemania 25 ^[2], the fans began to wonder – how strong actually is John Cena?

In this article, we are going to find out exactly that.

How Strong is John Cena?

While bodybuilders like John Cena are known for their shredded and symmetrical physiques, lifting weights that are exceedingly heavy isn’t their primary focus ^[3]. That’s because their training program is not centered around the principle of having monumental 1RMs.

Instead, bodybuilders tend to exercise with moderate intensity, lifting around 70% to 80% of their 1RM while performing more repetitions ^[4]. John Cena, being more of a bodybuilder than a powerlifter or a weightlifter, was not trained to lift maximal weights. But throughout his career, he has shown plenty of evidence of his strength.

Here, we shall shed light on his strength based on his performance in all the core exercises.

• Squat: 610 pounds
• Bench Press: 487 pounds
• Deadlift: 602 pounds
• Powerlifting Total: 1,699 pounds
• Power Clean: 353 pounds

John Cena’s max squat record came in 2015 when he was 38 years old. He squatted around 610 pounds without wearing any suit or knee wraps for aid.

In the same year, Cena claimed that he had performed his max bench press, recording a total weight of 487 pounds. At that time, he was not wearing any bench shirt for support, but he did have on a pair of elbow sleeves.

His record-breaking max deadlift has an interesting backstory. It came on his birthday in 2017 when Cena decided to do something daring to celebrate turning 40 years old. He managed to deadlift 602 pounds.

Based on that, if he performed to the best of his abilities on a competition day, Cena’s powerlifting total would amount to around 1699 pounds. Hence we can imagine that Cena was not just building his body for aesthetics but for functional and raw strength as well.

To give you some perspective, Ronnie Coleman, arguably the strongest bodybuilder ever, had an estimated powerlifting total of 2,250 pounds. In comparison, Cena, who is not even a professional bodybuilder (let alone a powerlifter), can do pretty well.

Lastly, Cena attempted a power clean lift of 353 pounds and was successful. He did that on his 41^st birthday in 2018 in an attempt to go for two record-breaking years consecutively.

How Does John Cena’s Strength Compare to Other Wrestlers?

Based on what is mentioned earlier, it’s clear that John Cena is one of the strongest athletes of the generations. But in the wrestling category, can we deem him the strongest, or even one of the strongest ever?

For that, let’s compare his strength feats with other giants of the industry.

We will start with the most obvious reference point – Mark Henry. Dubbed the “Strongest Man Alive,” Henry was a professional powerlifter and strongman before being inducted into WWE’s Hall of Fame. He represented the United States at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996, setting a new world record in deadlifts and squats.

While many people, including the likes of Big Show, believe that Cena is the strongest competitive wrestler in the modern era, Mark Henry’s raw strength is unparalleled.

In 1993, when Henry was young and just entered high school, he set a record by squatting 933 pounds with minimal gear. Following that, he also tried a deep squat with 953 pounds, shattering another record that stayed on for over ten years.

Henry also recorded a deadlift of 903 pounds, which is only slightly lighter than some of the best-recorded deadlifts in the history of the competition. Cena, as you can tell, was nowhere near these numbers. But it’s unfair to compare anyone with Mark Henry, who’s a legend among legends.

Based on the numbers, we know that Cena is stronger than the likes of Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Seth Rollins. A fairer comparison would be against someone who has been in the industry for as long and looks equally imposing. Brock Lesnar is a suitable candidate for this comparison.

Brock Lesnar has recorded a deadlift max of 720 pounds, a squat max of 695 pounds, and a bench max of 475 pounds. That amounts to a powerlifting total of 1890 pounds, slightly more than John Cena.

It’s clear, therefore, that Cena is not the strongest WWE athlete of all time or even of his generation. But he’s certainly among the strongest.

5 Times John Cena Showed Superhuman Strength in WWE

John Cena is known for his illustrious career in wrestling and some remarkable strength-based feats in between his matches.

Let’s have a look at some of the most insane moments in WWE that symbolized Cena’s raw strength:

1. Cena Lifting Edge and The Big Show

During the 25^th rendition of the Wrestlemania Main Event, Cena squared off against Edge and the Big Show in a triple-threat match. The stakes were high, with the World Heavyweight Title on the line.

At one point, Edge put Big Show in a sleeper hold while standing on the corner post. Cena, in a flurry of adrenaline, proceeded to lift both Big Show and Edge on his shoulders, with the audience going ballistic.

Till that point, even the feat of lifting Big Show was considered a testament to a wrestler’s raw strength. But Cena redefined expectations after winning that match.

2. Cena Lifting The “World’s Strongest Man”

Mark Henry had an imposing figure, standing at around 400 pounds of raw strength. In one of the matches, John Cena squared off against the World’s Strongest Man to fight for the Money in the Bank suitcase.

In a match that lasted an excruciating 15 minutes, Cena and Henry struggled to get past each other. At one point, John Cena lifted Mark Henry against all odds. While he wasn’t able to deliver his signature move, he certainly lifted the pure strongman on his shoulders.

3. Cena Lifts The Mountain – Great Khali

The Great Khali was one of the most colossal figures to enter the WWE ring. Standing at an impressive 7’1’’, he made it impossible for regular wrestlers to even get near him, let alone hoist him up.

John Cena managed to achieve that feat in 2007 in a title match at Judgment Day. At that time, Cena delivered his signature move to Khali, getting him up on his shoulders and dropping him.

He also became the first wrestler to make the Great Khali tap out in a WWE match.

4. Cena Lifts Both Big Show and Luke Harper

In an 8-man tag team match with Cena and Rollins as the protagonists, the former achieved the unthinkable.

The match was filled with illegal interruptions and dirty tactics, making it impossible for either side to get a victory.

At one point, Cena was squaring off against Luke Harper, absolutely dominating him. Big Show entered the arena to distract Cena, only to get hit by the Attitude Adjustment – John Cena’s signature wrestling move. Seconds later, Harper tried to attack Cena, who in turn got lifted off his feet and was thrown onto Big Show’s collapsed figure.

Lifting both these heavyweights with a break of mere seconds between them is a testament to Cena’s superhuman strength.

5. Cena Dodges The Rock’s Aerial Attack, Delivers Attitude Adjustment

In a more recent Wrestlemania event, Cena accomplished another superhuman feat. As The Rock was about to hit him with an aerial attack from the corner post, Cena caught The Rock, rolled over, and then proceeded to lift The Rock.

The sequence required raw strength from both wrestlers. But Cena’s endurance, stamina, and the ability to lift The Rock after 30 minutes of pure wrestling entertainment was the highlight of the match.

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John Cena’s 8 Rules of Working Out

Want to have a physique like John Cena? While following the exact training routine and diet plan can be hard, there are some things that you can implement to make your time at the gym more effective.

Over the years, John Cena has set up some foundational rules that allow him to focus purely on the exercise that he performs while working out.

Here’s a synopsis of the wrestling legend’s fundamentals for the gym:

• Don’t listen to music while working out.
• Ditch the Smith Machine. Go for machines that don’t have a fixed range of motion.
• Never, ever stop focusing on your max squat.
• Look up your deficiencies and work on them.
• Clean up after yourself at the gym – put away the weights, use a towel, and more.
• Give yourself more recovery time as you get older.
• Try new things at the gym. Learn to not be good at new things initially and keep the momentum going.
• Go out there and do the hard work required to see the results you want.

Top 3 Reasons Why John Cena is Considered the All-Time Greatest WWE Superstar

While there are many names that impress in entertainment wrestling, John Cena’s is echoed by youngsters and WWE loyalists alike.

His longevity is one of the reasons why he’s dubbed the greatest ever. But what are the rest?

Simple Math

John Cena is a 16-time World Champion. According to WWE, this is a record that is yet to be surpassed.

During his career, he has also achieved other phenomenal numbers. For instance, he has won the prestigious Royal Rumble twice and has featured on Wrestlemania’s Main Event on five different occasions.

He is only behind the legendary Undertaker when it comes to completing 10 wins at Wrestlemania.

Unwavering Loyalty

Loyalty is one of Cena’s core qualities advertised on the big screen. But more than acting, the veteran wrestler has displayed it too.

He has been a loyal ally of WWE ever since his rise as a professional wrestler. Even when he got big in Hollywood, he still came back and was featured in professional matches to help the old organization get some of the energy back up.

Role Model

Everyone knows that Cena is a great athlete. But more than that, he serves as an inspiration for many youngsters.

Apart from his work ethic, Cena is known as a good guy in general. He is incredibly kind to his fans in real life and makes time to visit the ones in need in person.

His prowess, both on and off the arena, is what makes him the greatest wrestler of all time.

Beyond The Muscle: The Most Interesting Facts About Cena’s Career

Do you love Cena and are interested in knowing more about him? We have some interesting facts collected from various points in his career:

• John Cena’s catchphrase “You Can’t See Me” comes from the name of his first and only Rap Album, released in 2005.
• Cena has successfully acted and performed well in many Hollywood films.
• Cena has single-handedly granted more than 650 Make-A-Wish Foundation wishes.
• John Cena participated in the reality show called “Total Bellas.”
• Cena has been featured in the cover titles of many video games.
• Cena once hosted the Saturday Night Live show.
• Cena was honored by the Variety Magazine in their Power of Women issue, owing to his philanthropic nature.
• Cena is an author by profession, having written many children’s books.
• John Cena is highly passionate about cars.
• Cena is an advocate for preserving marine wildlife.

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Wrapping Up

John Cena has been the face of WWE for multiple decades now. His bodybuilding ethics, as well as his raw strength, enable him to be an imposing figure in the world of athletes.

While he is definitely not the strongest member of the wrestling family, he is up there with the top candidates.

References

1. (2013, September 26). A debuting John Cena accepts Kurt Angle’s open challenge: SmackDown, June 27, 2002 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ivQ3ogO1M
2. (2022, April 8). Edge vs. John Cena vs. Big Show – World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match: WrestleMania 25 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kCL1wf60eA
3. Alves, Ragami C., et al. “Training Programs Designed for Muscle Hypertrophy in Bodybuilders: A Narrative Review.” Sports, vol. 8, no. 11, 2020, p. 149.
4. Helms, Eric R., et al. “Evidence-based recommendations for natural bodybuilding contest preparation: nutrition and supplementation.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 11, no. 1, 2014.