John Cena Reflects on How Arnold Schwarzenegger Inspires Him, Discusses Movie Stunts Versus Wrestling

During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, former WWE Superstar John Cena spoke about how iconic action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone inspired his career. Cena also noted that Schwarzenegger was influential in how he acts as a human being. Below are some highlights:

John Cena on How Action Stars Like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone Inspire Him

“So, I have a strong affinity for Arnold and Sly’s accomplishments, and I can’t I have more fluency in Arnold’s background and Arnold’s story. I will read Stallone’s memoir and be able to answer the Stallone side a little bit better in the future. I look forward to that conversation. I want to use my admiration for Arnold outside of vocation. He is open, vulnerable, self-deprecating, and his advocacy of being useful has helped me narrow in on my purpose.

“Gosh, he is what I believe the American dream is. An immigrant coming here with a big idea and making the impossible just a word, and how he is relentless in trying to get the best out of others, how he uses his notoriety and relevance now. And like I said, his concept of being useful- his words found me at the right time and have helped hone my purpose for what I feel is the act three of my life. So, I can’t wait to read Stallone’s memoir so I can get a little bit more fluency there. But gosh, Arnold Arnold has been very influential about how I move through space as a human being.”

On What’s Harder on the Body Between Pro Wrestling and Movie Stunts

“I think they each have their own set of challenges, and each of your careers could each be over in the next performance. And that’s the risk. And it takes a certain type of person to know that, like, I’m going through that curtain, or I’m going through this take with the risk that this might be my last one. But I’m going to do it anyway, and I’m going to do it with the bullish attitude that I’m going to be there tomorrow. And when I’m there tomorrow, I’m going to be just as excited as I am right now to take that risk. Keep in mind, a stunt performer, right? When things get too risky, that’s when we bring in stunt performers. What a crazy thing to say. You know, when the production’s like, ‘This is too risky to have this person do. Bring in the person that loves risk.’

“Like, that takes a certain type of individual. I agree with you. Unsung hero. I’m so glad that we now have awards ceremonies and we have specific awards that are being doled out to stunt performers because you’re right. We seem to award every other metric of the village it takes to make a movie, and stunt performers, gosh, they just — you can tell they don’t do it for the awards; they do it for the passion, and that fraternity is interesting and awesome because of that passion. As far as WWE, man, that’s — I don’t know, man. I just I would put anybody out there in a ring with 15,000 WWE fans; they would want to do it again.”

John Cena stars in Matchbox: The Movie, which debuts on Apple TV+ on October 9.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit ComicBook.com with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.