“From sleeping in a car and not being able to make ends meet to having so many fans — this is why I love wrestling. All the pain and struggle that I’ve gone through is worth it,” says a slightly overwhelmed John Cena while looking at the thousand of children who had gathered at Crossroads to see their favourite WWE wrestler.
The two time WWE Champ is in the city for a couple of days and though he knows that there will be no time for sightseeing, he isn’t complaining, “I prefer meeting the people of a city instead of doing the tourist act.” And, while he is meeting loads of people, John’s also dispelling some myths. “Wrestlers are not aggressive all the time. I’m a pretty easygoing guy. But, like my fans know that if anyone messes with me, I’ll swing them, till I can’t swing no more,” he laughs.
This multi-talented 6 foot-one, 240 pound wrestler also has a rap album to his credit - ‘You Can’t See Me’ - which was on number 15 of the Billboard Charts, and next up he has a movie releasing this summer. “Music for me is a way of releasing pent-up emotions. At some level, it is very similar to wrestling, though obviously, music is very personal.” As for his music being similar to his style of wrestling, John agrees in a heartbeat. “Hip-Hop is the art of braggadocio, man. It’s about saying you’re better than the next guy. Wrestling is the same thing.”
John’s Hollywood debut is ‘The Marines’ and co-stars the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Jeff Chase. “Moving out of the (wrestling) ring to a movie set was pretty daunting,” he recalls, “When I’m in the ring, regardless of what I’m doing, it’s all live. There are no re-takes. It’s very tough to keep up the same intensity and emotions take after take while shooting a movie. Hats off to all those actors.”
And his message for all the skeptics of the sport? (After all, there are many who believe that professional wrestling is more about entertainment and very little about wrestling): “We do entertain people but it’s not the same as watching a movie or a cricket match. When I slam someone, it does hurt.”
u_karishma@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}