John Cena revealed a surprising detail about his creative process during his interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. The WWE legend disclosed that his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, has been heavily involved in his recent run, even contributing specific lines to his on-screen promos.
“She wrote The Lazy Boy joke for Randy’s promo. She writes promos. She gives ideas,” Cena stated.
Cena described Shariatzadeh’s perspective as valuable because she sits in a unique middle ground between a casual viewer and an insider. “She’s not like a super fan, but she’s not ignorant. So she gives a good perspective,” he explained.
Travel Companion
Beyond creative input, Cena noted that his wife has been a constant presence on the road throughout his farewell tour.
“She has been [at] every show since, like, summer of Cena. So she’s done like a loop. She’s seen probably 100 shows,” Cena detailed.
He described their routine backstage, which involves isolating themselves in a private space rather than mingling in the communal areas. “She is backstage with me, like, not backstage in catering. We share the same room, and I don’t come out of my little room,” Cena said. “We talk, we solve all the world’s problems in there”.
Sharing the Burden
Cena emphasized that sharing the inner workings of his career with his spouse has been a transformative experience. He contrasted this with his past approach, where he viewed WWE as his “safe space” that he kept separate from his personal life to avoid complications.
“I used to have WWE as my safe space, because they want to f*** it up. I didn’t get fired because, again, maybe trauma. They were going to fire me. I never want to hear those words again. So I’m going to do everything that I control, everything if I’m just alone,” Cena admitted.
However, realizing that he wanted to build a long-term future with his wife changed his perspective. “And then finally, I’m like, man, if I want to grow old…And now, with the knowledge base she has, I can put on a match when I came back from the rumble in MSG, no one knew they kayfabed me. I stayed in a locker room. She’s like, which one, the one at The Garden…at the bottom of the ramp. Oh my God. Like we now have that connection,” Cena said.
He concluded by highlighting the depth of understanding this has created in their relationship. “I can plug her in to the previous 18 years of my life. And she understands, because I was brave enough to let her in and not keep it for myself,” Cena reflected.
Appearances Beyond the Ring
Cena stressed that her involvement is not limited to wrestling events. He listed a wide range of professional obligations she has accompanied him to, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the demands placed on a top-tier WWE Superstar and Hollywood actor.
“If she wants to stay home for Vegas and I go to WrestleMania and say we did six appearances. I went up into three corporate boxes. I had a four hour meet and greet. She knows exactly what all these things are,” Cena explained.
He continued to list the specific types of media and production environments she has experienced firsthand.
“She’s been on a media day for press. She’s been on red carpets. She’s been at shoots. She’s been through night work. She’s been on commercials,” Cena stated.
The Impact of Marriage
When asked how much being a husband has changed him, Cena stated “a lot, and for the better.” He explained that he previously operated with a selfish mindset focused solely on “hard work” and “hustle,” often at the expense of personal connections.
“I put all my efforts in wrestling and accomplished an unreal amount. So like, what if I could put that effort into being part of a team? What would be the yield?” Cena asked.
He described the requirements of the relationship as “giving when you have no time,” “listening when you have no patience,” and “encouraging the growth of your partner’s journey as well as your own”.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can watch the full interview on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel.
