John Cena: The busiest Superstar in sports-entertainment
By Kara A. Medalis
September 30, 2006

WWE Champion John Cena just might be the busiest man in sports-entertainment. Tonight, he’ll guest star on an episode of FOX’s MADtv. That’s just one of his many appearances building toward Oct. 13, the nationwide opening of the movie he stars in, WWE Films’ The Marine.

Cena recently shot the cover of the November FLEX magazine; he toughed out boot camp with the U.S. Marines at Parris Island, S.C.; he just attended Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition in Las Vegas; and he filmed the MADtv episode, which airs tonight at 11 ET. But on Oct. 3, Cena will kick it into overdrive at the world premiere of The Marine at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in southern California.

“My schedule means a lot less sleep, a few more cups of coffee and a whole lot of good times,” Cena told WWE.com.

From September to October, Cena has three military base visits in his plans – Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City; Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.; and Scott Air Force Base in St. Louis.

“I’m looking forward to all of these upcoming events, especially those with the Marines,” Cena said.

After the world premiere on Oct. 3, Cena’s schedule certainly doesn’t slow down. Before the movie opens nationwide on Oct. 13, the WWE Champion will do shoots for People magazine and USA Today newspaper, and will be featured in a USA Weekend story on Oct. 8. He’ll walk the red carpet at VH1’s Hip Hop Honors at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Oct. 7, and appear on the morning talk show Live with Regis and Kelly on Oct. 9 and on VH1’s Totally ‘80s the same week. He’ll tape segments for MTV’s The Ten and M2’s Rock Countdown, and will embark on a satellite media tour and a national radio press tour. Whew! And that’s just covering a portion of the WWE Champion’s schedule. Cena insists on keeping a whirlwind pace to promote The Marine, WWE and WWE Films. But even with his busy schedule, Cena never fails to neglect his No. 1 priority – defending the WWE Championship.

“I think the success of The Marine is an integral part of launching WWE Films as a brand. If WWE Films does well, WWE does better – it all works in conjunction with everything. If more people who don’t know what WWE is about watch The Marine and decide to tune into RAW, we get a bigger audience. I said this five years ago when I started – we have the best show on earth, and I want everyone to know about it, and The Marine is a way for everyone to know about it,” Cena said.

“I’ve done everything from Parris Island to train with the United States Marine Corps, to shooting the cover of FLEX magazine, to Entertainment Tonight, MADtv, VH1 – basically just trying to get the word of The Marine out there.”