Flex Online.Com

WWE's JOHN CENA
Last week, FLEX met up with John Cena of World Wrestling Entertainment at Gold’s Gym in Manhattan, NY. The shoot started out a busy day for Cena, who, along with his duties for WWE, is currently promoting the release of his first movie, The Marine.

In all, FLEX spent about four hours with the WWE Superstar, the first two of which were devoted to Cena’s back workout for the article and the shoot. Cena had a following of about 20-deep following him around Gold’s that day – the FLEX crew along with a host of WWE representatives – but that didn’t stop the former bodybuilder from putting himself through a grueling, high-volume back workout.

“John’s the utmost professional,” said photographer Ian Spanier. “He was so easy to work with. He definitely did a tough workout, and we shot it just the way it happened.”

Cena started following bodybuilding at an early age, and did several contests before giving up competing in favor of a professional wrestling career. But his knowledge of the sport still proved to be spot on when handicapping this year’s Mr. Olympia contest. Here’s what he had to say about this year’s Mr. O, and about Ronnie Coleman’s hunt for Sandow number nine.

“Ronnie Coleman’s impossible to beat. Nobody’s gonna beat him as long he competes. If he shows up it won’t even be a show. He’s a mutant. He really is. I don’t think he’s from this planet.

“I’m a Massachusetts guy. I’m pulling for Cutler. But Ronnie’s impossible to beat. Impossible. Every year everybody always says he can’t be bigger. Or better. And every year he shows up bigger and better. A lot of guys sacrifice size for shape, or definition, not only does he put on mass but he’s well defined. He’s a mutant.”

Cena will appear in the November issue of FLEX, scheduled to hit newsstands on October 10.