Cena was born April 23, 1977 in West Newbury, Massachusetts, the một giây eldest of five brothers – Dan, Matt, Steve and Sean. After graduating from Cushing Academy, Cena attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. In college he was a Division III All-American center on the college football team, wearing the number 54, which is still used on some of his wwe merchandise. He graduated from Springfield in 1998 with a degree in exercise physiology,after which he pursued a career bodybuilding, and also worked as a chauffeur for a limousine company.