25 Things You Didn't Know About John Cena
24. He Was Bullied For “Turquoise Polka Dots”
Rebellious kids everywhere do things to push buttons and prove how cool they are compared to their parents. John was no different. He told Stephanie McMahon on her 'Stephanie's Places' show for ESPN that he initially got into rap music just to see how his mother and father would react. If they were irked by it, then even better! Also, Cena was showing off at home whilst fending off bullies at school.
Other kids pushed him around for wearing (his words) "turquoise polka dots" around the place. Who did he think he was? Some kind of alternate Dusty Rhodes of WWF fame? Those other children just wouldn't tolerate our John strolling around the place all nimbly bimbly. Rumour has it that he received a BMX for Christmas and someone yelled: 'He got a bicycle!' at the top of their lungs.
Probably. Maybe. Hope enough folks get those references.
Seriously though, John went through some harrowing bullying as a youngster, and he actually started lifting weights so he could defend himself. The lil' dude didn't quite know just how far that decision would take him in later life. Seeing some changes to his body gave Cena enough confidence to tell those bullies to hit the bricks, and the rest was history.
Who knew that his fashion choices would lead to weightlifting, then a job in the fitness biz, then pro wrestling immortality? Kids obviously have to be mindful when working out, because their bodies haven't fully developed yet, but John was simply looking for a way to keep the bullies at bay.
It worked. They got an Attitude Adjustment, and so did he.