“I Asked My Dad Is it Okay if I Start Working Out?”: John Cena Once Let His Thoughts Flow On How Bullying Turned Him Onto Bodybuilding

John Cena’s character in WWE embodied a never give up and fight-against-the-odds attitude. Cena would overcome tough situations, and bigger opponents throughout his career to inspire a younger generation. And it turns out that the Leader of Cenation fought even bigger problems while growing up. And he emerged from it much stronger. A few years ago, the wrestler-turned-Hollywood actor revealed he was bullied as a kid. This eventually led him to bulk up and become a bodybuilder.

For years Cena played the role of a tough guy who couldn’t be put down in WWE. He had the adulation of fans and respect from his peers. But according to The Champ himself, this was a far cry from his childhood days when he was a victim of bullying in high school.

John Cena revealed how being bullied led to a career in bodybuilding

John Cena inspired a lot of people especially the younger generation during his tenure in WWE. The 16-time world champion played the role of a guy who would not back down from a fight. He would keep going and give it his all no matter the odds. Although this was his on-screen gimmick his early life also taught him to never give up in a hard situation.

In 2017, the WWE star teamed with footwear brand Crocs for a campaign that encouraged people to embrace who they are and celebrate their different personalities. Cena shared that the campaign spoke to him personally, and he was glad to be part of the promotion. Moreover, the Doctor of Thuganomics also shed light on his difficult past and how it spurred him to become a bodybuilder.

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Cena bulks up

Speaking to Huffington Post Cena said they bullied him as a kid in high school. He said, ” I go back to my high school dynamic and there were like two kids who bullied people and they bullied everybody. So, yes, I was bullied, but that goes along with a lot of people.”

Moreover, in the advert for the Crocs campaign, Cena said that this encouraged him to work out which eventually led to a bodybuilding career. Cena recalled, “I remember the walk to the school bus, at the very least, five times, shoved down, toppled down. I asked my dad, ‘ Is it okay if I start working out?’ The Peacemaker star revealed that after he jacked up the bullies stayed away from him.

He added, “By the time I showed up at high school, I was big. The guys who were pushing me down were kind of like, ‘We cool?'” Shortly afterward Cena began a career in competitive bodybuilding. The WWE legend would have to go jump through a few more hoops before finally making it big in pro wrestling.

Cena told many stories in the ring where he taught people to keep going and do their best to come out of difficult situations. But his real-life story of making a career in bodybuilding to overcome bullying may be the most inspiring of them all.

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