John Cena, born in 1977, is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the history of WWE. He became the company’s “face” for over a decade, particularly during the “Ruthless Aggression” and “PG Era.” Cena is a 16-time world champion (including the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship). In addition, he has won major accolades such as the Royal Rumble (twice) and Money in the Bank, and has been part of numerous iconic matches that cemented his legacy as an in-ring legend.
From 2006 onward, Cena gradually reduced his in-ring schedule and transitioned into a part-time role to focus on acting. He began with The Marine, then appeared in notable projects such as 12 Rounds, Blockers, and especially Bumblebee (2018), part of the Transformers franchise. He also joined the blockbuster action series with Fast & Furious 9 and made a strong impression as a superhero in the series Peacemaker, further solidifying his position in Hollywood.
Today, John Cena is considered one of the few stars who have successfully thrived in both professional wrestling and acting, while maintaining a significant influence on global pop culture. Notably, he is also a pαѕѕionate fan of BTS, even being playfully dubbed by many fans as a “leader” within the fandom.
He has consistently expressed his admiration for the group since 2017, once stating, “I’m a fan of BTS… I guess you could say I’m ARMY,” in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. In 2018, he even jokingly “offered” to become the group’s bodyguard when the global superstars visited the United States. His Instagram account also frequently shows signs of his “purple-вℓσσ∂ed” support. Even outlets like Billboard and Teen Vogue have highlighted Cena’s enthusiasm for BTS in their coverage.
While it is clear that John Cena is an ARMY, not everyone knows what led to his deep admiration for the group. At FAN EXPO, one of Texas’s largest pop culture events, the wrestling icon revealed the impact BTS has had on both his life and career—going as far as to say he favors BTS even beyond K-pop as a whole.
Specifically, Cena openly expressed his affection for the group, crediting them with helping him through difficult moments: “j-hope is my guy. I don’t necessary like K-Pop, I gravitate towards BTS! What BTS specifically did for me is they found me at a right time in my life to give me hope and inspiration through who they are as people..they reached a 48 year old dude who was struggling with self-worth”.
Following these statements, he received widespread support and enthusiastic reactions from fans. Many netizens also agreed with him, noting that BTS’s music truly has a “healing” effect:
- The fact that a lot of people say this about bts, they always out here saving lives and inspiring so many
- Being an army and loving John is so cool, makes me feel so happy. and i share his feelings. BTS gives you so much; they're love and thousands of other beautiful things. pleaseeee, bangtan and john, reunite soon
- They really found us at the right time when we are struggling with life. this is exactly what i would say if someone asks me why i love them sm
- It's crazy how music can touch people, how art can move people to the better and it's insane how bts does this so well just being themselves
- I think that's why most of us are so loyal to them, their music like how can you leave someone who roots for you, encourages you to live and helps you gently acknowledge stuff you don't really want to.. they're the angels who popped up in my life when I was ℓσѕт and I love them
- Aren't we all. I mean, I've been watching kdrama for 2 decades but never bother diving into kpop. Until, I saw Tae in Hwarang. And this was during my most difficult yrs. Broken, broke, hustling. The hardest part was showing up as strong independent breadwinner when I have nothing
- Such a sweet words. Bts reach to ppl at the right time. They’re truly angels
- Same here! I usually don’t connect with music I can’t sing along to — but when I first heard Love Yourself: Answer and Magic Shop, I cried. The melo∂ιєs, their angelic voices, the message — it all нιт me so deeply.
- This resonates so much. I often feel inadequate when I see other armys say they've been here since 2014, 2015, etc etc. But it was not the right time for me. They found me at the perfect time.
This is not the first time Cena has spoken about BTS over the years. He frequently posts about them and makes viral statements regarding their social influence, always with great respect. The 48-year-old star has also emphasized the group’s significant impact on young people worldwide, highlighting how their messages about mental health and kindness resonate globally. He credits BTS with raising awareness and encouraging positive change.
