John Cena has become Hollywood royalty after starring in his solo superhero series, Peacemaker. Not only did the experience make him one of the most popular actors in the industry as of that moment but Cena has also become James Gunn’s right-hand man for his unequivocal love, support, and loyalty to the director.
All of this, of course, came after his ascension in the world of WWE to an unbelievable status of fame. But no amount of power or popularity could have prepared him for what would go on to become one of the most difficult and life-changing roles of his career.
John Cena Was Pushed To His Limits By Jackie Chan
Lifting weights for 35+ years has nothing on working out with Jackie Chan. To John Cena, 600-pound squats are veritably easier than being asked to kick over the head. And the pro-wrestler made that abundantly clear in an interview with GQ in the pre-math of his solo HBO series, Peacemaker.
“I did a movie with Jackie Chan about three to four years ago and they could care less about how strong I was. They just wanted me to kick over my head, which was impossible. I went over there to train with him for about three months and they stretched me like taffy. I immediately lost 20 pounds, which was very difficult for me.”
The physically demanding and mentally draining experience from those months later took a toll on Cena. The Suicide Squad actor recalls, “I even fell into a weird depression because it was like I’m losing everything that I worked on for 30 years!” However, the outcome of being stretched like taffy and coming out the other side alive changed his perspective on a number of things – physically challenging oneself to not only gain muscle but making sure they are flexible enough to be one of them.
John Cena’s Outlook on Life Changes For the Better
An experience such as this has its own aftereffects. In the post-math of starring alongside Jackie Chan, John Cena has had a life-changing reaction to his workout strategy – one that includes implementing his own yoga routine to his otherwise weight-centric sessions. The actor recalled after training with the Rush Hour actor:
“I begin to walk taller, begin to have less pain, I was more flexible, and that experience changed my life in many ways, and it taught me the value of making sure your body moves O.K. […] That’s why I relate it to yoga: It’s helped me balance a lot of what life throws at you.”
Also read: John Cena Snatched $6.3 Billion Franchise Role from Marvel Star Dave Bautista
Although many pro wrestlers and fitness enthusiasts are known to go above and beyond the physical limitations of their body’s inherent strength to achieve their impressive physique, John Cena goes a step further and claimed how he plans on doing what he does even at 80. Considering how he has incorporated both weight training and yoga into his daily lifestyle, it looks as though his plans are more of a definitive possibility than a far-fetched probability.
Source: GQ
