There are only a handful of people in the world who have not heard of John Cena, and only a few match his obsession with his craft. Recently, Big Show, in a clip released by High Performance on Instagram, heaped praise on Cena.

Paul Donald Wight, aka Big Show, reminisced about how Cena did not hesitate to pay out of his own pocket from the airport to the gym. 

"John would pay for his own van to pick him up at the airport to take him to the gym because he knew how to get," Big Show said. "He treated everybody with respect. He knew everybody's name."

Big Show further talked about Cena’s work ethic and dedication to his craft.

"He maximized every opportunity they gave him," Big Show added. "He took it in a very voracious way that I've never seen any talent ever do.” 

It wasn't just about physical output; Cena's dedication ran so deep that WWE management reportedly had to send him home.

"He'd take the rental car to the next town, do local radio, local TV, promote the shows coming up," Big Show said. "They had to tell him, 'No, you need to go home.'"

John Cena's strong determination and focus on fitness set him apart from others. He had one clear goal: to succeed in pro wrestling. He worked hard and gave everything to achieve it.

Now he no longer wrestles, but has not forgotten his roots!

John Cena Steps Back From the Ring, But Not From WWE

John Cena is now 49 and has retired from the in-ring competition in December 2025. He recently spoke at Saturday Night's Main Event, and his terms were simple and firm: 

"I will stay retired. No fall downs. I will not do anything physical."

Even though he is no longer present in the ring, he is still a big part of WWE. Cena hosted both nights of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas and appeared at Backlash to unveil the John Cena Classic.

This is an annual event pitting main roster talent against NXT stars, with the winner decided by fan vote. Date and location are still to be confirmed.

"I just want to try to develop a way to pay it back and pay it forward," Cena told The Takedown on SI.

The guy who once paid for his own airport van just to get to the gym faster is now building something for the next generation. 

What are your thoughts on Cena and his work ethic?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi