10 Years The Champ: John Cena Reflects On His Decade At WWE

Literally, I just needed to get through the curtain. I was in shambles that whole day. First, I was told I was going to have a match at 4:00 that afternoon. Then, I was told that I needed to get my hair cut, and I was sent offsite to get that done.

I made it back just in time, and everyone was flipping their lid. Randy Orton had tied my boots to a locker in the Allstate Arena, and basically, I had a giant smile on my face when I got to go through the curtain … because I knew I could no longer be messed with.

To be honest … being able to say that I make a living doing this has been the greatest experience in these 10 years. It’s pretty spectacular.

Not a chance. I was just happy to get that one match. I’ve always tried to live by the adage of “Just get one more. Go out there and do the best you can every night, and hopefully they’ll want to see you again the next day.”

I just a saw a photo of myself from July 4, 2002, in this month’s WWE Magazine, and it's extremely different. I had more of a traditional type of look. Then, when I started adopting a non-traditional personality, the look kind of went with it. It’s how I became known; rather than try to change it … it just fell into place.

Back in the “ruthless aggression” days, I wasn’t any different from anyone else. We had a lot of athletes who were aggressive. Becoming the “Dr. of Thuganomics” was a chance at an identity, so I took it.

It was so bizarre. The Vanilla Ice [look], the blue sheepskin costume, all the throwback jerseys, the steel chains … I wore some outlandish stuff because I came from an era where everybody seemed to dress the same and act the same. I took this as a chance to be different.

No, and that’s the thing I’m most flattered by. If you look at who I was four, six years ago, I was pretty racy. I was the king of "pipe bombs" before "pipe bombs" were invented. I consciously knew our product, I consciously saw our audience, and I made a decision that I'd live my life by a certain set of ideals, that I was just going forward in this direction. Whoever was with me was with me, and we’d go from there. It ended up being a good deal.

I’m very flattered when I meet parents – whether it’s Make-A-Wish or parents with their kids on the street – and they’re like, “Hey, thanks for letting us watch WWE. You’re a very good role model. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

I guess that one’s devotion to charity – no matter what it is – opens your eyes to a lot of stuff. Make-A-Wish, specifically; no matter how tough I think my day is, I am blessed to be where I’m at. That’s what I’m reminded about most when I help out Make-A-Wish. Those kids are the toughest kids I have ever met. They fight every single day, and they do it with a smile on their face. And they’re so happy to come and enjoy what I get to do every day. It helps a lot to put things into perspective, and it helps a lot to give you a legitimate take on reality.

There was a giant sense of excitement the very first time I won – and a sense of relief. I truly thought that would be it … but it’s weird, because this thing just never ends. As a kid, you want to be WWE Champion. Then, you’re WWE Champion. And then, it’s not enough. You want to keep it. So OK, let’s win it again. That’s what I love about this: As long as you’re physically capable, there’s always a goal you can strive for.

I know the number 16 [Ric Flair’s total of World Championship reigns] is put on a pedestal, and I’m quite a ways away from that. But that would be something to shoot for. And when or if 16 happens, or number 17 happens, then 20 becomes the number to shoot for. That’s what I love about doing this.

I’d say that I’m here. I truly know myself, and I try so hard to understand every aspect of WWE every day. There isn't a day that goes by in WWE that I am not learning something new about this company. So after 10 years, as far as me learning, I’m just getting started. There’s always something to learn.

No. I’m truly happy. I couldn’t be more happy. I’m truly living a real-life dream, and I would change nothing. There’s no decision, whether professional or personal, that I would ever take back.