John Cena has finally explained the real reason he spent most of his WWE career wrestling in his trademark ‘jorts.’
Speaking on The Late Late Show with James Corden (quotes courtesy of wrestlezone.com), the 17-time world champion revealed that practicality played a major role in the look that became synonymous with his character. John Cena noted that traditional wrestling attire never felt right for the persona he was portraying at the time.
“If you look at my other options, it is just underwear,” Cena said. “So I wanted to do some sort of street clothes because my persona was a tough wannabe rapper kid from the mean streets of West Newbury. Tough to do that in your underwear, so I also wear sneakers.”
While many wrestlers competed in tights or trunks, Cena wanted an appearance that felt more authentic to his character. The WWE legend admitted he experimented with different styles before settling on denim shorts.
“I chose denim because you don’t blow the crotch out of the denim,” Cena explained.
He revealed that cargo shorts caused problems during matches, leading to unwanted attention from the audience.
“I tried cargo pants, and in front of the world a few times, here I am trying to put my life on the line with a Superstar that I’m having a match with, and everybody is just looking at my d***.”
According to Cena, denim ultimately proved to be the safest option and became a lasting part of his presentation.
“So denim is a safe play, and they are back in, so I kind of stood the test of time,” he added.
John Cena’s Jorts Became A Staple Of His Wrestling Character
The jorts became one of the most recognisable elements of John Cena’s WWE career and remained part of his look until his retirement from in-ring competition in 2025.
Cena wrestled his final match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event last December, where he was defeated by Gunther. Since stepping away from active competition, the former WWE Champion has largely traded his signature denim shorts for tailored suits during his television appearances.
