John Cena revealed that years of taking falls in a WWE ring contributed to his fear of heights, admitting the physical demands of professional wrestling made him increasingly aware of the dangers involved.
Despite portraying a fearless character throughout his WWE career, John Cena said his ring experiences have shaped how he approaches potentially dangerous situations. Speaking to E! News while promoting his latest film, Matchbox: The Movie, Cena discussed his fear of heights after performing several stunts, including a sequence that required him to hang from a helicopter in midair.
“I think my fear of heights stems from falling down most of my life in the WWE,” Cena admitted.
The former WWE Champion explained that years of wrestling had taught him to recognise the difference between falls that would simply hurt, those that could cause serious injuries and those that could potentially prove fatal. That awareness has remained with him even after transitioning into Hollywood.
John Cena Discusses Facing His Fears While Filming Matchbox
John Cena admitted that several times during filming, he considered leaving the more dangerous sequences to a professional stunt performer. However, he credited director Sam Hargrave, a former stuntman himself, with providing the reassurance and expertise needed to perform the sequences safely.
“Because of Sam’s fluency, I got to face some of my fears and do a lot of things that I’m uncomfortable with,” Cena explained.
“I didn’t overcome my fear, but I promised Sam I would lean into the uncomfortable and he promised me I’d be safe, and we both delivered on our promises.”
Although Cena acknowledged that his fear of heights remains, the experience allowed him to confront situations he would ordinarily find uncomfortable. Matchbox: The Movie was scheduled for release on Apple TV on October 9 in the United States. The film also stars Jessica Biel and Kristofer Hivju, who is best known for portraying Tormund Giantsbane in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
