Few WWE stars can match up to John Cena’s impressive physique and strength. The 16-time world champion proudly boasts of his unmatched raw power and persona. However, even Cena cannot ignore an impressive physique when he sees one. A chance encounter backstage with ex-WWE star Tom Toland resulted in a hilarious exchange between the two.

"I remember I was just doing my resistance bands," Toland revealed in an interview with Cheap Heat Productions Podcast. "I'm working, and I'm just getting a nice pump. I remember he's standing right next to me, he's doing the same, and he just looks at me, he goes, 'Will you stand over there, man?” Toland said with a laugh.

This happened in 2008, while training in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), Toland and Cena met each other backstage during Cena’s visit to the WWE developmental territory. One look at Toland’s incredible physique, and Cena was stunned.

“Honestly, you're making me feel bad about myself," continued Cena in the interview with Cheap Heat Productions Podcast. "You look freaking ridiculous. Go over there. You look too good.' He's like, 'You make me look like s***!'”

Toland was always vocal about the negativity and toxicity in the locker room. However, he reflected on how Cena was anything but toxic, recalling their friendly interactions.

So, how exactly did Cena build his massive, impressive physique? His workout philosophy revolved primarily around progressive overload with heavy compound lifts.

 The science behind Cena's physique

Cena’s personal trainer, Rob MacIntyre, helped design a five-day training split where each day was dedicated to a specific muscle group.

According to Muscle & Fitness, Cena typically performed 4-5 exercises for each muscle group. Furthermore, he engaged in 3-5 sets of 10-20 reps. However, some of his lifts also exceeded 20 sets over the course of the workout.

His exercises generally focused on Olympic lifts, overhead presses, deadlifts, squats, and bench presses. In fact, Cena’s one-rep maximum records were astonishing. They included-

• 600 lb squats
• 664 lb deadlifts
• 481 lb bench
• 286 lb clean and jerk
• 304 lb snatch
• 344 lb overhead press

Cena always prioritized warming up, stretching, and mobility drills. According to him, activation drills are crucial if you want to reduce the risk of injury and maintain good joint health. Furthermore, he also emphasized the importance of proper nutrition and good sleep patterns.

Cena often vocalized the importance of maintaining good, sustainable habits over time. According to him, these were the keys to good health and proper training.

Which WWE superstar, in your opinion, has the most impressive physique in all of WWE?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi