Why Did John Cena Wear Dog Tags to the Ring in WWE?

In the enigmatic world of professional wrestling, a superstar’s appearance is not merely a matter of style but often a reflection of profound personal connections and evolving ideologies. One such iconic figure is John Cena, whose transformation sparked speculation among fans when he transitioned from heavy chains to dog tags in 2006.

Apart from his wrestling and mic skills, Cena is also known for his attire which consists of his plain-colored T-shirts, wristbands, and shorts. However, another factor is his dog tags. But why does John Cena wear these dog tags?

A tag for Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect for John Cena

It is not known exactly when John Cena started wearing these dog tags, but fans speculate that he started wearing these tags around 2006 while filming The Marine. It was during the shooting of the movie that John Cena became more involved with the US military.

While explaining his respect for the military, Cena said, “I’ve always respected the principles of the military, when I started doing all the military appreciation events, like going to Iraq and training at Paris Island, I learned about the value of dog tags, not only from a literal standpoint but also an emotional standpoint.” The dog tags were also in fashion during the same period. Hence, it made sense for Cena to adopt the dog tags.

Before Cena adopted the dog tags, he wore heavy chains with a lock as a neckpiece, as a part of his Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick. A gimmick change resulted in a change of appearance and hence the dog tags replaced the chains. But was it important for John Cena to change the neckpiece?

John Cena adopted the dog tags as a part of his Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect gimmick. But now the tag is more than just a symbol and a gimmick change for Cena. You can even see him kissing his dog tags before rushing towards the ring.

The tags are a personal memento for Cena

While explaining his attachment to the tag Cena said, “For me, what my dog tags stand for is very personal, very personal.” It was especially evident during his interview with WWE when the interviewer requested the chain. Cena responded with a ‘hell no’ despite the interviewer asking for the tags for less than five minutes.  

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Another example of Cena’s attachment is the names engraved on the tag. Cena revealed that he has the names of people close to him engraved on the tag. He said, “My family members are on there, and everyone who is special to me.”

What do you think the personal reason behind the dog tags are for John Cena?

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