John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” hand wave is one of the most recognizable taunts in professional wrestling history, and its origin is simpler than many fans might think. The WWE legend recently revealed that the iconic gesture began as a dare from his younger brother.
John Cena Reveals Origin Of ‘You Can’t See Me’ Taunt
During a “Do You Even Know Me?” segment with his “Suicide Squad” co-star Idris Elba, Cena corrected Elba’s guess about the taunt’s creation. He explained that what became a global phenomenon was initially just a joke between brothers.
“It was a dare from my little brother,” Cena said. “He said, ‘You won’t do that on TV. That’s stupid. You look stupid.’ So I did it — and here I am looking stupid every day.”
From Family Joke To Pop Culture Phenomenon
The taunt, along with the catchphrase, became a cornerstone of Cena’s character during his time as a top star in WWE. It has since transcended wrestling and become a staple of pop culture, appearing in memes, movies, and other media for nearly two decades. John Cena has transitioned into a successful Hollywood career, but he continues to make sporadic appearances for WWE. His next confirmed film project is “Heads of State,” an action-comedy co-starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, which is out now.
