Transcript: John Cena on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hello everyone. Welcome to another

episode of Good Hang. We have John Cena

with us today. Actor, wrestler,

humanitarian, good citizen of the world.

And John and I are going to talk about a

lot of really fun stuff today. We're

going to discuss what it's like growing

up in the Boston area with four

brothers. We are going to decide my new

wrestling character and and realize that

it's going to be incredibly successful.

Um, we're going to talk about Little

Brother, the movie that he's in, um, and

how much fun he had working on it. And

we're going to discuss how dress and

suits are important to him. And because

of that, I'm going to after this intro

go spiff myself up and make sure that I

am looking good for the interview. But

we always like to start these interviews

by checking in with someone who knows

our guest, who wants to ask us a

question to ask our guests and speak

well behind their back. and we are

talking to our first undisputed champion

on this show, WWE Champion Cody Rhodess.

Cody is calling in on Zoom from a

beautiful lake. And um I just like that

he's a champ. I love talking to champs.

And um let's see what Cody has to say

about his buddy and at times enemy and

always mentor, John Cena. So Cody, are

you there?

>> [music]

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>> Cody, hello. It's Amy.

>> Hey, can you hear me?

>> We can hear you. How are you?

>> I'm good. I'm sorry if I was doing like

the old people yelling. Can you hear me?

I don't know how loud I am at the

moment. I'm outside.

>> Congratulations, champ. Nice to meet

you.

>> Yeah, very nice to meet you. I uh I have

to share this with you. Uh you might

have heard this already, but where I uh

teach wrestling, um we use bowling for

votes as a part of the curriculum.

>> No way. How do you use it?

>> So, it's a way what I suggest I always

ask, has everyone anyone ever seen the

show? Because I was a big fan of the

show, but I always ask if they have and

then they have to go home and watch that

night. It's a way for young the uh

prospective wrestlers to understand that

social media, if you scroll through 300

positive things, but then you find that

one guy who thought you were fat,

there's no point. Go with the go with

everybody else. Go with the people who

already had your back, you know. But we

use that episode. It has brought up

every camp and uh most people know it,

too. So, it's actually a lot of fun.

>> Oh my god, that's so h that's so nice to

hear. I would never think to ask if

anything from parks is used in in any

kind of curriculum.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> But you're right. I bet you have young

people who are trying to figure out how

to participate in feedback,

which is really hard, especially for a

young person to like not let that feel

too personal. [laughter]

>> Well, particularly wrestling is brutal.

I feel like every funnel is one thing,

but I feel like wrestling and Star Wars

is the most divisive social I've ever

seen. [laughter]

It's you can't just say you like a

thing. Like a thing means you dislike

something else and it means it means

war.

>> Speaking about Star Wars is really

interesting. I'm sure you've made this

parallel before. All this like heroes

journey stuff is in the stuff that you

all do, the stories that you make in the

ring. It is very similar which is the

rise and fall and betrayal and like

trying to get uh you know like figure

out who you are in real time. It it

there is a lot of Joseph Campbell

parallels. [laughter]

>> Yeah. I uh I always tell people with the

hero's journey for for me as a baby face

and John as a lifelong baby face. Lot of

betrayal.

>> Lot of betrayal. It's [laughter] uh

every week is is new betrayal.

when you know a storyline is happening

when you know for example you're going

to get betrayed let's say by someone

like John do you guys look at each other

and go yeah or do you look at each other

and go I mean you guys probably never

make that sound but [laughter]

>> um I make that sound a lot internally

throughout the course of the day because

[laughter]

a lot of like h you know um but um with

John, particularly when John, if you've

ever seen it, the moment where he hugs

me and his face changes and uh

>> he was so excited. Uh [laughter]

and I was more um trepidacious in terms

of he had never done that and he had it

didn't even make sense to do it at this

point. He had never gone gone rogue,

gone bad. So I just didn't want to screw

that massive moment up,

>> right? He taught me everything I know

because I drove him around for two years

before he got his big tour bus.

>> John was such a fun riding partner. A

lot of strict rules.

>> We do this little ritual stop where he

had to load up a styrofoam cooler with

an extra 24 beers in the back of the car

[laughter]

>> just in case.

>> I'd never seen anyone in terms of he was

our our top star and the lead baby face

at the time, the lead good guy. And he

>> this term baby face I'm obsessed with

this.

>> Okay. Yeah. He is he is the he is the

>> ultimately even after what he did to me

[laughter] they were still fearing him

and booing me. So it was like all right

[laughter] okay thanks guys. John is

pretty great at the magic

except for one area that is widely known

to wrestling fans and wrestlers.

John will not talk low or in carney as

we would say like if I need to tell you

Amy duck the clothesline I'd say like

dizz you know something we this little

carney it sounds like

>> a little like fake language like a pig

Latin

>> it's like a pig Latin meets snoop talk

>> but John yells everything that's going

to happen in the [laughter] ring as loud

as he can possibly yell it. He calls it

for the first four rows an interactive

experience.

>> God, this is so helpful because one of

my questions is like to, you know, is

figuring out exactly how you all

improvise because you're improvising a

lot. Obviously, a lot is written and and

and you know, beat it out. But you're t,

you know, you're talking about really

big physical things that you have to

figure out how to signal to each other

in safe ways. obviously. Um, [laughter]

that's really funny that

>> screams it.

>> Screams it.

>> Screams it. And then there's a the last

match I had with him at SummerSlam. He's

about to slam me with his big finishing

move, which is the attitude adjustment

from a table to another table. So, it's

highly dangerous. It's going to hurt.

Uh, we're going to do it the safest way

we can. But you can hear him yelling at

me why I'm on his shoulders

that he can't see. because my arm is

over his eyes. And I I never spoke back

to John. I It was I never wanted to

speak back. He's, you know, a mentor to

me. And but it was one of those moments

where I thought, "Buddy, I'm the one

doing this. I [laughter] don't give a

just throw me." Like I I'm not worried

about your your He's screaming at the

top of his lungs. I can't see. Um

[laughter]

>> I really love your relationship. You

guys have a very brotherly relationship.

>> Oh, good. Yeah. Well, I I mean,

>> I can't think of another guy who didn't

need to take the time. He definitely

didn't need to. He had He was the

busiest guy on the roster. He took the

time. He I was a another term. I was

He's not going to agree with this, but I

was a job guy.

>> What's that mean?

>> I was laying on my back looking up at

the lights every night. I was uh the

3-second tan, as John calls it, you

know. Um,

and he still wanted to he had a belief

in me.

>> H wow.

>> You know, he can speak a little French,

too.

>> Yeah. And Mandarin, right?

>> Ah, the Mandarin.

>> I can't. It's so annoying. I I was just

saying like it's so embarrass I I can't

speak another language. And I don't need

somebody be coming in here and showing

off the two that they can speak. Yeah.

You know, it's like keep it to yourself.

>> Not on your turf, you know. [laughter]

>> Exactly.

>> Not on your turf. We ask the um the

people we speak to before our guest to

ask to give our guests a question. Is

there anything big or small um dumb or

serious that um you think I should ask

John about or you'd want to know about

him?

>> Oh man,

>> what's he going to do with all this

knowledge?

[laughter]

>> Right. What is he going to do with it?

We we don't have a book yet, right?

There's no book.

>> Does he plan to write a book? And what

is he gonna do with all this knowledge?

And if he plans to do nothing, what was

the point? [laughter]

I don't know.

>> Perfect question. Perfect question.

>> I don't know if that's any good, but

what's the point, [laughter] right?

Life's too short. You're not going to be

speaking Mandarin, you know,

it's it it totally speaks to the bigger

thing, which is like I want to know like

when when do we all get to rest?

>> Yeah. When do you finally go down, John?

When do you rest? You know,

>> what's the thing that's going to take

you down? What new thing? [laughter]

>> So, yes, that's the thing. Something

he's going to tackle, he won't be able

to do.

>> Actually, that's a really good question.

Is what can you not do? Well,

>> he'll give you some some excuse my

language. Oh, he'll give you some BS

humble humble answer. God, he's he's so

well he's so well put together. You got

you got your hands full.

>> No kidding. But, you know, I I I do

really well with these big guys.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> I don't know what to tell you, but I'm

just I really know how to handle them.

>> I'm a huge fan of the show, so I know

you do.

>> Thank you so much. It means so much that

you talked to us today. And I know John

will be so thrilled that we talked and

um it's really nice to meet you.

>> Very nice to meet you, too. Have the

have the best day. And thank you again.

If you need anything and anyone wants to

reach out, I got I could talk about John

for days.

>> Oh, awesome. Thank you so much for your

time. Such a pleasure. All right, champ.

Talk to you later.

>> Have a good one.

>> You, too. [music]

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This episode is brought to you by

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>> We enjoy a tasty beverage every once in

a while. And I wanted to get you

something that was like highly rated,

but I didn't want to get you 100 point

wine because with 100 point wine when

you drink it, you're like, I don't get

it. But with something like 98, you're

like, oh man, THEY GOT DIPPED. So

hopefully it's a good glass.

>> Oh my gosh, thank you so much. This is

so nice.

>> A lot of fun conversations happen over

wine.

>> I want to talk to you about wine. I know

you love wine or you know a and you know

a lot about it.

>> I have had a lot. I've had a lot of it.

>> But it is like that thing that you can

just keep learning and learning and

learning.

>> As with most things, you can you can get

deeper in in the rabbit hole.

>> John Cena is here. I'm so excited that I

changed into I put a suit jacket on for

you and

>> I put a suit jacket on for you and a

pocket watch for you

>> and a Is that a personal pocket watch?

>> It is. I didn't have the Does it mean

something?

>> Of course it does. I have my readers.

>> Wait, let's put our readers on. Let me

see yours.

>> I will I will do the full presentation

again. [gasps]

Starts out as a monle. [laughter]

Here we are. [snorts]

[laughter]

>> Now that falls under some habeddasherie.

>> Thank you.

>> Yeah.

>> Thank you.

>> Um I like that you do you like to wear a

suit?

>> Uh I do. I do.

>> How come?

>> I think you know I've I've tried to

reflect on this. I think it has to do

with uniformity. I do. So, like there's

the uniformity of knowing what you have,

but then the freedom to do cool stuff

within that.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, like um not exactly base suit

colors, so there's an aggressive stance

with the pinstripe, [laughter]

>> but it's still going to be like, okay,

uh non- low cut waist coat, two button

coat,

>> everything fits.

>> Do you get them get them made for you?

>> And that's another thing, right? So,

like I used to hate suits cuz they used

to be so uncomfortable,

>> right?

>> Until people were like, "No, no, we make

it around you." M

>> I'm like, "Uh, say what?" And then

someone made me a suit and I put it on

and it felt like a warm-up suit.

>> Yeah. Are you the same gen as me? Are

you Gen X?

>> I Yes, I believe so. Yes.

>> So, I feel like in our lifetime, we've

watched clothing get just more and more

and more casual.

>> In our lifetime, I feel we have w uh

watched clothing get more efficient.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, this one suit is made of

stretch fabric, so you can run a mile in

it and you never have to wash it like

>> Right. It's more of that.

>> Yes. And this connects to kind of what I

wanted to start talking

>> again just my lens.

>> Yeah. But but but I think it connects to

a bigger thing which is there's

something about the way and you would in

which you participate in what would

almost be considered um at times

oldfashioned things which are

professionalism, [laughter] politeness,

uh like wearing a suit, being like being

able to be dependable. All those things

sometimes feel like sadly that they feel

sometimes old-fashioned. My experience

I've got a chance to work with you and

had the pleasure to get to know you a

little bit over the the last couple of

years and and like you're just such a

professional, John. Like you're such a

hard worker. You do what you say you're

going to do and even the suit like feels

like a symbol of like I'm taking this

seriously I guess. Where does that come

from? Have you always had that? Have you

always been that person?

>> So, there's a lot there.

>> Okay.

>> There's a whole lot there. Um,

>> we got wine. We're fine.

>> I don't know how simple that. Uh,

simple. Yes. Um, you want to be in

shape, go to the gym. Simple. Easy. I

don't know.

>> Right.

>> Those things aren't easy.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh, and [sighs] you equate those things

with success. M

>> success is ambiguous. There is no one

recipe for success.

>> Yeah.

>> What I do uh is what I believe will get

me the next opportunity. But I'm also

wrong a lot of times.

>> Where do I get those things?

>> Through wisdom and experience. If we

were doing this interview in 2005,

>> I would have an oversized uh sports

jersey on. I would have a backwards

Mitchell Ness hat on. I would have come

in with more diamonds than I've ever

seen in my life or I need. I would have

I would have been wearing a set of

Reebok pumps and a set of jorts

>> and I never would have broken the

character of the doctor of thuggonomics.

>> You Yeah, you would have stayed there

>> because that at the time I felt was my

path to success. Uh how did I get these

things? Good question. So I don't know

how to succeed. I don't I always try to

put uh odds in my favor and I appreciate

people's opportunity. I'm also not

supposed to be here. I'm a kid from West

Newberry who didn't train for this. I

didn't put in the hours of uh improv

classes like you. Um it's like a happy

accident. All All said, life hands

people opportunity and hands people some

bad cards. If you get an opportunity

card, man, try to work to make the most

of it.

>> Yeah.

>> I am where I'm at because I know how to

fail. M

>> and I talk to people about this a lot

and I want to try to I'm trying to

expand on this idea to get it out to

people.

>> Yeah.

>> The things you do in life, I can

guarantee you will fail if

you are unreliable,

unprofessional,

uninvested, and uncoachable.

>> Mhm.

>> Those four things. And I don't mean like

work. I mean like life. It's so it's so

interesting you say that because

sometimes when I when people ask about

like succeeding in in the kind of stuff

that I do, I always say something that

it feels like almost simple, but it's

like just be fun to work with. And it's

it falls under that category, which is

when people want you around,

you get more opportunity. Like the the

the the it's the final product of what's

going to happen in your life to your

point about what you're going to be

successful at. You never know. You don't

even know if it's going to be what you

want. It it always changes.

>> Sure.

>> But the experience, the way people feel

around you,

>> it they remember they remember, I liked

working with that person. I had a good

time.

>> Or I liked seeing that person. I liked

being entertained by that person. I I

had a good interaction.

>> Yeah.

>> That doesn't necessarily guarantee

success. I I'm not what I'm not saying

is if you're coachable, professional,

reliable, and passionate,

>> you will succeed. Because there's still

a level of magic dust and ambiguity and

luck

>> and things beyond our control. I can't

tell you how to succeed. What I can do

is if you are unprofessional,

uncoachable, uninvested, and unreliable,

you will fail 100%. Guaranteed. I want

to talk to you about your thoughts about

winning and losing and about

collaboration and like and I feel like

it goes back to probably the fact that

you grew up in a family with four

brothers, five boys.

>> Amazing.

>> Yeah, that is that is a feat. [laughter]

>> Your mom

>> Well, I mean, she had uh albeit she had

probably she had probably a tough

30-year run, I would [laughter] say.

We we got a chance to so John and I got

to work together a few different times

in different ways and you told me a

story about your brothers and you and

crayons.

>> Yeah.

>> Can you tell that story?

>> Yeah, sure. Uh so

the house was wonderful. Uh and not too

many safety guards.

So, uh, if helicopter parenting is like

constantly looking over your kid,

my parents were submarine parents, like

I I don't I'm trying to find the exact

opposite.

>> They were hiding in the basement.

>> I think I think the only safety concern

was at night we do like a 10 and 10

inspection. You got 10 fingers, you got

10 toes, go to sleep.

>> That was such a cool thing to have as a

young person

>> because we essentially could have an

idea and do the idea.

>> Amazing.

So, because there were so many of us and

my dad would work and my mom would stay

home, um, we would just do stuff like in

a box of 64 crayons, if one kid was

behaving and coloring in the lines,

three other kids grabbed as many as they

could and just ran on the walls and did

whatever just to be like, "This is

great." Because at the time doing that

as a kid, that is great.

>> Yeah.

>> But my poor mom would be like, "Oh man,

Matt, what a great what the

I can't even imagine.

>> Meanwhile, like laundry for an army is

piling up and she's like, "Oh my god,

now I got to feed everybody again. I

just fed you guys three hours ago.

>> Taking years off her life."

>> Oh man. But honestly, [laughter] she she

had an uphill climb for three decades

and now all of us collectively as a

group are like, man, we need to make we

need to make sure she's doing all right

always. So, uh, these these last, you

know, four plus decades

>> have been a different chapter in my

mom's life and especially like the last

20 between all of us and her have been

real special.

>> I want to ask you about that because I

know you you've done some very special

things for her, but growing up in Boston

in the '8s

>> y

>> not like you know what what were you

guys were was your family you know like

were you known as like the Cena

brothers?

>> Oh my god. Yes. And they all came walk

together.

>> So, uh, this I grew up in West Newberry.

We got to take Boston out of the

>> equation. Well, we all say Boston no

matter where

>> because anything around no one cares,

>> right?

>> So, West Newberry is, if you keep going

northeast of the state of Massachusetts

to the New Hampshire line, there are

some old maritime towns that are quite

beautiful.

>> And inland, there are some even smaller

farming towns. And that's West Newbury,

1,200 people. And in 1985, your neighbor

is acres away and you got to ride bikes

everywhere. It was it was like out of a

out of a movie like it was like Goonies.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, like it was awesome.

>> So, yes, we were the scenas

>> and we could show up and a basketball

game would ensue because we've brought

the team.

>> It was it was incred an incredible place

to grow up.

>> Yeah.

>> And I'm so glad I didn't stay there

because it is it is not a diverse look

at the world,

>> right? But man, what a what a cool place

to grow up, especially

>> especially because when you're a young

boy, like boys, young boys are sometimes

like dogs. You have to kind of like run

them out. You have to run them. They

need like a yard and you just throw the

ball.

>> Yeah. And we had acres and like we could

go out in the forest and try to burn the

forest down. [laughter]

>> Thank you, West Newbury Fire Department.

Or we could have like pickup football

games that would end in brawl for alls

where parents are just pulling up in

their cars and ripping. [laughter]

That's my kid. And it's but it was

great. And it was great.

>> And did you learn how to like

>> I learned how to lose a fight which I

think is really like any tips.

>> That's why I'm a diplomat. Like you get

your ass kicked a few times and you're

like yo that this sucks.

>> Yeah. And and what do you and what are

some rules to lose a fight? Like what do

you what did you learn by losing a

fight?

>> Humility. Embarrassment. Physical harm.

And and another thing is like

>> Yeah.

>> Winning a fight also sucks. It doesn't

feel good. Yeah,

>> especially when you're like, man, we

just fought over like who gets to play

bases loaded next like [laughter]

>> what?

>> And that kid's hurt. Like,

>> so you get on both sides of that

equation.

>> Yeah. And uh

>> I don't think people realize that, you

know, and when we grew up when in my

high school there was a fight every day

after school

>> and it was like, "Oh, who's going to

fight today after school?" And girl,

women too, young. It was common.

>> It was very common. And in fact, when I

went to college for a while, I would go

to parties and I would just kind of

stand there.

>> It's like an episodic 3:00 high.

>> Yes. And people and people would be

like, "What are you worried about?" I'm

like, "There's too many people here from

different towns. Like, this is going to

go down."

>> The different town thing.

>> Different towns. Someone showed up at

your party from a different town. Forget

it.

>> But [laughter] as you know,

>> show party, but if the Haveril kids show

up

>> Exactly.

>> Yikes.

>> Like kids from Wuburn show up like it's

going to be a bloody mess. But um do you

have to like as a big guy growing up as

a tough guy with brothers like

>> and but also you felt like you were

>> crazy. I was I got the [ __ ] kicked out

of me every day.

>> Every day cuz I was a scrawny kid and

dressing like MC Hammer [laughter]

>> and Bel Dvau. It was like if Bel DVO and

MC Hammer ran into each other.

[laughter]

>> Yeah. rayon and airbrush denim

>> and you got p and you got high top fade

>> beat up by your brothers or by people

>> by by my peers. So it was a multitown

high school where the junior high is at

one place and the high school is at one

place

>> and Marramax buses were here and

Groven's buses were here and West

Newberry's buses are over at the high

school and I'm in junior high and you

have to like go I

>> I see the walk down the sidewalk as if

it was yesterday. I'm walking down the

sidewalk and I'm passing the kids who

are like 15, 16, who can't drive yet and

still have to go to the bus and I'm the

one so wearing like rayon polka dots in

in a an 80s rock, country music, combat

boot denim

>> you know, mullets, like you you can

paint the picture. I stand out like a

sore thumb and I was an easy target and

like a scrawny skinny kids. Even

something as simple as like boom, down

the hill I go,

>> right? shitty comment like that. That

was that was on the daily.

>> That was like the daily.

>> But that's trauma.

>> So [laughter] So

>> that's traumatic, John.

>> Uh I app I appreciate you saying that.

>> That's traumatic.

>> Life deals us all hills to climb.

>> Yeah.

>> I doubled down. It was It was a great

experience for me. Here I sit dressed

loudly

>> as myself.

>> I'm not I don't I don't have a stylist.

I prefer to do these things without

makeup because I want people to see me

as me.

>> Now I understand

>> if I'm creating a character.

>> Yeah.

>> Put as much [ __ ] on me as you want.

>> But this is me,

>> right?

>> And this is how I feel comfortable.

>> And when those kids picked on me for how

I dressed, I would go straight to

Liberty Tree Mall and be like, "What is

worse than this?"

>> Yeah.

>> I'm turning it up.

>> My god, the Liberty Tree Mall.

>> And then like and then I found weights.

>> So it's I didn't learn to fight. I

wasn't like, "Yo, I got to learn to

fight. I'm just going to project

>> the art of like

>> the math isn't so much in your favor

anymore." And by the time I got over to

the new building, I was 15. I'd been

working out for two and a half years,

and I was stronger than everybody. So,

every like, ah, I may get him, but if I

catch a stray, I'm going to get my teeth

knocked out. So, it it hedged. Like, it

worked.

>> So, what's it like to go home to Boston?

>> It's it's wonderful, actually.

>> Wonderful. must feel like they really

cuz the one thing I'll say one of the

things about Boston that's really lovely

is

your hometown really embraces you like

if they feel like if they have some

pride in you you really feel it when you

go back like people really feel like hey

they they share like look you always

know from Bostononians how they feel

they tell you to your face you're good

you're bad I like you I don't like you

>> it's weird they do but they don't it's I

want to I'll elaborate on that but Yeah.

No. Do you think do you think I'm wrong

that they're more passive aggressive?

>> No. No. They'll tell you how they feel

about you,

>> right?

>> They'll never tell you how they feel.

>> Oh, no. Feelings.

>> And that like So that's why uh that's

why recently going home has been way

better.

>> Yeah.

>> Because my brothers are all hitting that

like late 40s approaching the half

century now. And they're all we all have

wisdom of like

>> Yeah. Man, it's kind of a kind of a

shitty mindset if somebody's like, "Hey,

how's life?" And you're like, "Ah, it's

taking forever." [laughter]

>> Like that.

>> Yeah.

>> But that's also West Newberry.

>> Totally.

>> And man, as as beautiful as the

landscape is, sometimes there's a a lot

more anchors than sales over there.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, and I I love the pride. You're

right. Like when when someone from a

community makes it, the community has

made it.

>> That's right.

>> I like that.

>> That's right.

>> Because that's a win for everybody.

Hopefully it gets everybody's spirits.

>> Yeah.

>> And I don't I don't mind that. Um

it's just sometimes hard to get anything

real out of anybody.

>> Oh, babe. The idea of figuring out your

feelings and saying them in real time,

that was not what we grew up with.

>> Yeah.

>> I mean, I still kind of can't believe

sometimes when people are able to locate

their feeling and then say it, it's

like, how did you do that? Because we

just It's a skill. It's a skill to

figure out what you're actually feeling.

>> Yeah. feel it and then express it.

That's like a lifetime of work. And when

you're around culturally this thing,

this feeling of just like to your point,

there's a lot of like a lot of comedy,

>> a lot of self-deprecation.

>> A lot [clears throat] of

self-deprecation and a lot of

>> lot of doom and gloom and pessimism.

>> A lot of pessimism and a lot of action

over words, right? So, someone's not

going to say necessarily say like, "I

love you." But they're going to like fix

your tire.

>> The mshole.

>> Yeah. What the [ __ ] you broken down for?

Ah, dude, you [ __ ] idiot. Let me fix

your tire. All right, get the [ __ ] out

of here. [ __ ] off.

>> Yeah.

>> Like, that's literally their way of

saying like, "Ah, man."

>> Yeah.

>> Tough day, right?

>> Yeah.

>> Let me help you out here. [laughter]

>> Right.

>> I hope everything goes better for you.

>> But it's not that.

>> No, [laughter] it's not that.

>> Yeah.

>> No, it's [ __ ] He can't even [ __ ]

roof a house. I'll get up and [ __ ]

roof in two hours. You told me a story

though about and I want to get to

wrestling because I have so many

questions about it and as a person who

the the Bostononian and me had an early

experience with it, but it's changed so

much. Like

>> we've kind of lived in the same world

though.

>> I know. Okay. Your mom, you bought her a

house.

>> My mom earned

a a castle.

>> But that story is such a good story.

>> We settled on a house.

>> Okay. Tell just tell a little bit of

that story how it went if you don't

mind.

>> Uh there's never any land for sale in

West Newberry,

>> right?

>> And there came a large plot for sale in

the height of development and it was

heavily overpriced.

>> I don't know if anyone was following the

financial ticker, but something happened

in 2008 [laughter]

>> and that same person

>> they made good decisions.

>> Well, the culmination of all those good

decisions happened and they stopped they

stopped pouring the champagne.

>> Yeah. the person who was selling the

property came back and said, "Hey, um,

we just want to recoup our engineering

costs. Would you still be interested?"

So, a value opportunity came up of like,

"I don't need this."

>> Mhm.

>> But I have an idea of what I can do with

it.

>> Oh, wow.

>> And my brother Dan just so happened to

be in really good graces and working for

a contractor at the time, and he's one

of the the most respected individuals in

in like our small building community.

met with him and I kind of specked out

like what would this idea take in real

time? He's like less than the cost of

what they offered you to buy the place

for. I'm like, "But you can do all

this?" He's like, "I can." He's like,

"I'd like you to put your name on this

place and make it something you're proud

of." He's like, "I still can do that."

Okay, do it. And like a secret meeting

like this.

>> Oh my god.

>> Everyone wearing suits.

>> Every a lot of smoke, everybody's

scotch. It was It was 8:00 a.m.

[laughter]

It was like, "Dan, we're doing this.

Don't [ __ ] say a word. The story is

I'm moving back home." So, building a

house takes a long time and it's a

beautiful plot on the hill where like

from three towns over, you can see

what's going on. So, now we got to clear

land and we're digging trenches and

we're building this nice

>> beautiful New England home that exposes

itself to the river. It's got

viewpoints. It's got this crazy copper

dome and all this stuff. Everything is

settled for like creatively everything's

on the first floor and there are

multiple floors but everything you need

to get in and out of the access is on

the first floor and

>> everybody's watching the project and

everybody's like when are you coming

home and everyone you know in the

family's kind of excited and meanwhile

I'm still in my residence happy in

Florida. So, it finally gets done 2

years later and it's around

Thanksgiving, which is a great time in

New England because everyone like comes

home for Thanksgiving and they go to the

bars for Thanksgiving and the

Thanksgiving football game. My mom's

birthday is close to Thanksgiving.

>> Yeah.

>> So, we throw a Thanksgiving thing and

it's not for my mom's birthday.

Everybody comes over cuz we're keying

the door to the house for the first

time. Place still smells new

>> and taking everybody for a tour and I'm

bragging about like, "Ah, this is this

and this is this thing." And I built a

bar over the garage cuz I had had one

space for me. [laughter]

My mom doesn't like that, but she wanted

to come see the whole house. And when

everybody gets in the bar room, I give

my mom a birthday present. And it's the

key to the house.

>> And she she like lost it.

>> Like she absolutely she's like, "I

can't. I can't." I'm like, "No, it's

already taken care of. Movers are coming

tomorrow." My mom uh was living in the

third floor of like a triple family in

an attic in 300 square ft with her stuff

packed in. She was just by herself

packed in and she was content and happy.

That's who my mom is. She's she's a

lunch pale blue like she go to work. Uh

she wouldn't accept it. So then I had to

negotiate. I had to be a diplomat of

like you don't understand. There'll be

trucks there tomorrow. Everyone's on

board. We're going to move your stuff

over. I'll tell you what, it's it's

already here. This isn't for me.

>> Could you please at least give it a try

so all this doesn't go to waste? Well,

if it's going to go to waste [laughter]

and uh that was that was like 15 years

ago and she's been there ever since. And

now it's it's her place and we get

together there on holidays and it's her

place

>> and that's what a son should do for his

mother.

>> Well, uh again,

>> yes,

>> I I buy your mother a house. She she

earned it. She absolutely earned it.

>> It's such a beautiful story, too, John,

because you also included everybody in

that surprise, you know, like and and

and you I I just think I don't know. I

just I just think it's it's so

indicative of how you're always kind of

thinking about how can I how can I

extend my gratitude? You're you're such

a generous generous person. And we'll

talk about that. Um but I after this, my

parents are going to call me and say,

"Why haven't you bought me a house?"

100%. Bill and Eileen are going to be

like,

>> "We're against the wall. We have no

space."

>> We heard John on the podcast and we're

wondering why you haven't built us a

house.

You know, my dad used to take me to

wrestling in the 80s. Um, we used to go

see No. So, we used to see Hulk Hogan.

Where

>> Sergeant? I know you were going to ask

me this. I forget. Maybe like the worrum

[laughter]

>> or as we would say Wora

>> the Worcester Sentrum.

>> So it was Hulk Hogan um Sergeant

Slaughter the Iron Chic.

>> Yeah.

>> High88s you know very um

>> so there here's the cool thing there

were a lot more performers on that card

but you remember like

>> Yeah.

>> Americana patriotism.

>> Totally. It was Yeah. It was USA all the

way.

>> Xenophobic all that. But that's that was

>> totally that was a time and I remember

watching it and being like, you know, in

retrospect now it was kind of like the

closest we could get to Las Vegas or

something like it was like it was like

how it felt like a like a highlevel high

energy performance. Um

>> that's pretty that's on the bullseye.

>> Yeah. With with audiences that were

really really invested.

>> Yeah. And can you explain?

Wrestling to me feels like a combination

of

dance choreography

writing, and story, and like magic that

you will never know the secrets to.

>> I'll take that.

>> Okay. Is that fair?

>> I think that's very fair. So when you

are performing

and you are in that arena and the

audience gets to interact with you and

you are how much have you prepared for

that day because the difference is like

any other performance there is such

skill needed for the physical I mean you

like circus sole doesn't wing it. No,

>> but you there is a there's an amount of

improv in wrestling that I've noticed

when I would see it and also and and

when watching it now that is like I can

can't always tell how much is prepared

how much is actually prepared and

rehearsed. I guess

>> it depends it completely depends on the

performers.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah. Some do that some don't.

>> Some

what do you like to do?

>> I like to be an improvisational

performer.

>> Right. But that is not I don't go out

and wing it,

>> right?

>> I prepare

>> my ass off.

>> So I start with the creative part. What

is the story?

>> Yeah.

>> So if we're fighting over the fact that

you stole 10 grand from me,

>> right?

>> Everything I do is going to relate back

to your theft

>> and everything you do is going to defend

that you never took it. And the thing

that WWE is different than SNL,

[clears throat] that is different than

Sketch,

>> the audience is the act, not observing

the act.

>> The audience is the act. So, as a

performer, the way I approach it is,

okay, I have 25 minutes. We have a match

together, and we've been telling the

story of you've stolen something from

me,

>> $10,000

>> for for three weeks. This is a lot of

money. Um,

>> you needed it for your

>> I was gonna pay off my mom's house.

>> Your mom's house

>> and you took that away from me.

>> And now she can't get in.

>> And now she's gonna be evicted.

[laughter]

>> Yep.

>> So just by

>> What are you going to do about it?

>> You've kicked my mom out of her house.

>> Yeah. Oh, that's so good.

>> You did that.

>> Yeah.

>> And I almost This is the last payment.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, you're taking the back and I

got the keys and I'm just swinging them

right in front of you.

>> Yeah. So now you you being a creative

mind, we could have that wrestling match

right now.

>> Right. Give us 25 minutes. I'll take 35.

>> Okay, I love that. And then you're

right. So the all the moves are kind of

connected to that, right? Like

everything goes back to that theme.

>> And here's where it gets very

interesting.

>> If the story dictates in this match, it

dictates

>> you've stolen something from me. We're

going to ring the bell. I'm going to

show that I'm more skilled and I've

earned this the right to make this

payment. You're going to cheat just like

you stole and be like, "No, I'm better."

Right? And then there's going to come a

point in the story where the crowd is

like,

>> "Would you do something?" It's the

typical Hulk up. It's called the

comeback.

>> So what I do is we have our why.

What we need to really rehearse is from

the comeback to the finish.

>> Okay.

>> And that's usually that's usually the

rehearse. The physical part.

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> The third act needs to be

>> ad nauseium. You need to have it

>> right

>> because

>> you're doing dangerous things.

>> You [laughter] are doing dangerous

things, but there's a fundamental trust

between performers that you know X

skill, I know X-kill. And the

conversation we can have before is

>> do you do anything specific that's

outside of the fundamentals that I

should know about,

>> right?

>> And the person who leads gets all that

information and stores all these things

in their uh card catalog.

>> The third act needs to be prepared

because it can also change,

>> right? Basically, you use the first two

acts to go out and improvise,

>> right?

>> And if we get out there in the Worcester

Center, which I believe to be a rowdy

crowd, but slightly different than

Boston and Hartford, but they change and

they're like, "We're for you."

>> Right? We don't want that mom to have

her house.

>> But keep in mind, we need that

>> we need to gear for that moment where

they're like, "John, do something."

>> So immediately, a piece of line that I

would throw in the water is punch me in

the face. And they might cheer.

>> You would say that to me. Punch me in

the face.

>> I would say immediately punch whatever

we had planned. If we talked about

something [laughter] and they came out

and we're like, "Yeah, me." I'm like,

"Punch me in the face now." Or or like

I'll go out.

>> I will go out and turn my shoulder to

the crowd as if I'm confused. And when I

come back, hit me in the face. Bam. So,

we did two things there. You threw the

first punch, which is not fair. It's not

virtuous.

>> And you did it when I wasn't looking.

Right.

>> So, it's these subconscious things of

like, they're for Amy, but this is my

mama. And bam. Oh, [clears throat]

jeez. Get on me. Come here. And then I

would have you just beat the tire out of

me. And they might like that. And then I

would just have you lean into that.

>> Yeah.

>> Where it becomes like, oh man, it's like

watching a bad fight.

>> And then I would just listen to be like,

well, come on. Do something. Do

something. No, screw. Do something, man.

Okay, duck. Here we go. And then we go

into now we have the now the audience is

working with us rather than against us.

But there have been instances where the

people behind the curtain will tell the

ref to tell you like switch the finish.

[laughter]

>> So we've decided that the other person

is going to win.

>> So if you're super prepared,

>> you can change things

>> and and change in real time. Now keep in

mind as I'm saying when I turn around,

punch me in the face.

>> I'm listening to the crowd. I'm hoping

you're going to be there. I'm also

listening to my ref. So, sorry that is I

thought that was real.

>> No, it's fake. [laughter]

>> So, real ruse. Anyway, I I have the ref

being like, "You have 17 minutes left.

You have 16 minutes left."

>> Mm-

>> So, like, it's all happening in real

time. And there are coaches watching you

from behind a curtain that will tell the

ref what they think you should do,

>> right? Oh, you're getting You're getting

notes in real time.

>> In real time.

>> But that's why live TV is so

That's why I wanted to do it forever and

I just physically I can't do it anymore.

But that's why when every anyone says

like what do you like more? Wrestling.

>> Yeah.

>> That's why I I I got run out of

Hollywood the first time around.

>> You talked about that. I I love what you

said which is like um

>> look at what we just talked about.

That's [ __ ] great. You can feel the

excitement

crowd the the noise

>> and then when you get like when you get

fluent at it

>> when you're like oh I kind of understand

this. I'll do this and and then the

challenge becomes like, oh man, the UK

crowd is throwing a beach ball around.

How the do I work that into the act? Go

out and get that thing and pop it and we

come back. [laughter] When you come

back, I'm going to give you my finish

real time. This stuff I've had people

get married. I've had people start

fights and stands and we work it all

into the act.

>> That's amazing.

>> Just cuz you're prepared.

>> It's the opposite of like doing standup

and not wanting a heckler. Basically,

you want that feeling that people are

listening and participating.

>> Here's the thing. It's not that we want

it, it's just it is.

>> It is.

>> And standup, the kind of protocol is

like

>> enjoy the comedy.

>> Don't heckle.

>> Yeah.

>> Here, it's like you have paid your money

to heckle.

>> Yeah.

>> And there's 12,000 of you.

>> All right. Good luck.

>> And you can you can heckle on mass.

>> Yeah. chants start out that are too hot

for TV that Netflix is turning us off

and turning us off and just literally

the audio goes out like it's

>> it's crazy [snorts] and you can't the

more you try to be like calm down

everybody.

>> Yeah, of course. You don't want you

don't want to be calm down. Understand

that you're working with my character

part of the act.

>> I would be like, "You guys calm down.

Stop." I'd be like, "Guys, it's so

loud."

>> That would be my thing, guys. IT'S SO

LATE. IN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> LIKE, IT'S SO LATE AND IT'S SO LOUD. I

MEAN, why are we fighting? Why are we

fighting? This is crazy. That would be

my character.

>> I Do you hear that?

>> Let's take a nap.

>> Do you hear that off in the distance?

[laughter]

>> It's the money printing machine.

>> Oh, man. Calm down shirts. We sell

chamomile tea.

>> Oh, this is amazing. That's actually a

great idea. I come in

>> I go

>> and all of my holds, all of my moves are

like to just be like, "Quiet,

>> just

>> like and I just I snap and they go down.

>> Just be quiet.

>> Quiet. Come on."

>> And everybody brings their blankets in

and they're like, "Sh,

>> nobody calm down. Wait,

>> what's big foam hands?" Wait,

[laughter]

>> calm down, Amy. one when the entire

place is quiet.

>> CDA.

>> Calm down, Amy. [laughter] CDA. It's

instead of CBD oil, it's CDA.

>> CDA. We'll get you that. We'll get that

brand partnership working. This

>> This is [ __ ] genius.

>> We did this here.

>> We just did this here.

>> And here's what's also so crazy about

the WWE. You might see that character.

[laughter]

>> They might be watching like,

>> "Yeah, they're on to something.

Get the CD going." I love what you said

in your transition to acting is that it

was confusing to not have the show, you

know, like like the super long hours,

lots of waiting around for your time.

>> Different mindset.

>> Totally. And you you spoke about how in

the beginning it was really confusing

>> as a young 20some. Yeah.

>> I wanted to be there and I want to go to

the bar afterwards.

>> Yeah. Right.

>> And then do it in the next town and then

the next town

>> and get instant feedback.

>> It's the best. And and I'm not saying

like crushing it is awesome. It's the

best when you bomb.

>> Yeah.

>> It's the best,

>> right?

>> Like cuz then you're like whizzing to be

like, I got another performance in 24

hours. What do I do? Like it's the best.

>> Yeah. You don't get feedback when you're

shooting it. I mean, you do from the

director.

>> It's a different It's a different

mindset.

>> Yeah.

>> And uh it took me

appreciation of the mindset to really

apply.

>> Yeah.

>> And and and people like you to bet on me

and know that like, oh man, I'm getting

an opportunity here. What what can I do?

Show up early and [ __ ] be prepared.

>> Yeah.

>> Be ready [clears throat] to go.

>> I mean, okay, so we worked together in a

movie called Sisters, me and Tina, the

great Paula Pel. And it was so fun. Um,

>> tons of comedians. Great cast.

>> Great cast.

>> Stacked that thing there.

>> It was so fun to work with you. And you

and Paula Pal fell in love. You love

each other.

>> And I I mean to me a few we had a few

conversations over wine.

>> You and Paula had a few wine. What What

did you guys do? You guys hung out and

and drank wine

>> a lot.

>> What's I mean, what's so great about

Paula? What do you love about her?

>> I like her her perspective. I love her

courage. Uh man,

>> like I I just like that energy. I I like

again I say anchors in sales.

>> She's a sail.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, like always curious, always

creative offthe-wall.

>> Yeah.

>> I just know I know any idea is going to

have like that whimsy, that magic in it.

>> Yeah. And I I want to be with those

people.

>> Yeah. You know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Did

you really Were you a big comedy fan

growing up? Because you've done a lot.

What were you watching? What? We were

all watching SNL and What were you

watching growing up

>> at a young age? I was watching stuff I

shouldn't be watching. So, my dad was

the only person in my only male in New

England that didn't care for sports.

>> Not kidding. Like, we never grew up at

the Red Sox, the Celtics, because that

stuff all happened

>> when I got to junior high,

>> right?

>> And I had to fall in a peer group. So,

like I gota I got to start caring about

sports,

>> right?

My dad liked old '8s titty comedies and

pro wrestling [laughter]

like Benny Hill. He loved. So I'm

watching like

>> Benny Hill.

>> My people don't understand how important

Benny Hill was. I mean

>> unless you're my dad.

>> It's it's in and now you watch now and

you're like Jesus Christ this is a

terrible show. Like Benny Hill is talk

about predator.

>> It just didn't age well for for the

time.

>> But at the time I remember being a

little kid being like what is this?

[laughter] Yep.

>> A lady standing behind a bunch of

melons.

>> Yep.

>> And Benny Hill is like like a cartoon

character trying to grab

physical. And it was like what? What is

this? Like

>> and and and [laughter]

so in our psyche. Benny Hill.

>> Yeah. The chase with the music has

become a meme.

>> You don't have to do the Benny Hill

style, but you do the chase in the music

and it's it's a meme. Like

>> And did they watch like did they

>> they watch like Kentucky Fried Movie?

Um, Animal House, Catty Shack,

>> uh, Anything Rodney did, like I mean,

you name it. I mean,

>> all those comedies. We t we talked about

Mr. Mom, like,

>> uh, it just 80s comedies. My dad would

literally fast forward through the

romance OF LIKE THE ROMCOMS.

>> Got into the jokes,

>> but they were great. Yeah, but dude,

some of them like you go back and you're

like, "Oh my god, Porky's like

>> Porky's was a that was on

>> that was and when you were a young woman

watching Porky's it was not good."

>> So,

>> John, it really [ __ ] it really [ __ ]

with our heads.

>> It did because it was like what is going

on? It's like the like there was so much

like you know I remember watching Weird

Science and being like incredible movie

and then a couple years later I'm like

okay two teenage boys create a sex

robot. It's Kelly Le Brock and they're

like come sex robot come meet our

friends and I'm like that did that does

[ __ ] you up. [laughter]

>> It does. We we saw I'm sure this has

happened where you look at an 80s movie

you're like this is hilarious comedy and

then you play it and you're like oops.

There's a lot of that. But you have you

have a like you have a real knack and

love I think for comedy especially, but

you do all different kinds of acting.

Um, what do you what do you like what's

your relationship to acting right now?

Like what you know, you're you're you're

retired.

>> Uh, I'm I'm a retired physical

performer.

>> We'll see.

>> No, no, no, no.

>> Okay.

>> So, I have stated that speaking in

absolutes is impossible.

>> Yeah, exactly. I've also used the term

it would be financial suicide [laughter]

for someone to be like here's what it's

going to take and I'll be like you did

it I'm a liar [laughter] financial

suicide judge Judy Judge Judy negotiates

her contracts she slides over a number

>> that [snorts] is so she's such a G

>> such a G and then she goes and if you

don't want me to do it

>> guess what

>> go home

>> guess what

>> who cares I got I'm good

>> I got a

I got 3:15. It's 30:07.

>> She's like,

>> she slides. She slides and they look and

then they go,

>> "Welcome back." or whatever. Um, but

>> so never performing physically again.

>> Okay. Got it. Got it.

>> And there's there's multi- tears to

that. Uh, I I need to stop because

physically I want to be I want to enjoy

a long good life. I don't want to have a

bunch of crusty years and punishing my

body.

>> The math isn't in my favor for the good

years.

>> What is the part of your body that barks

the most when it's

>> low back? But so so I'm a male or I'm a

human at 50. That's everyone.

>> Yeah.

>> Aside from that, I did really good.

>> That's great. Do you do like Pilates and

yoga and like stretchy stuff?

>> Heavy stretchy stuff.

>> Yeah.

>> And I hate it and I do it a lot all the

time.

>> Can you touch your toes?

>> I can.

>> [ __ ] I can't touch my toes.

>> Stay in the frame.

>> The suit is tough.

>> My god, John is doing it. He's touching

his toes. I can't I actually can't bend

farther THAN THE SUIT.

>> WA.

>> YEAH,

>> that's really good. John,

>> I can go hands flat on the floor. That's

my stretch flat on the floor.

>> That's my stretch every day in the

shower. And if you walk in on me taking

a shower, [laughter]

>> you'll see me in a different POV.

>> Man, I was just all the funky bits

spread open. That is the every morning

full spread. Start with that full

spread. Man, I I I was I was really

hoping that you would be not flexible

because

>> No, cuz that's I have to work.

>> You have to work at it. That's

incredible.

>> I want to move around.

>> Yeah.

>> So, I can talk about it or do it.

>> Okay.

>> And it sucks and I hate it and I do it.

>> Oh, god. You do. You You're good at

doing things you don't like to do,

>> but I like to do them because I like

what it yields.

>> Yeah. And and uh forced austerities are

a luxury because life gives you stuff

that you really don't want to do that

you didn't get to choose. So it's

>> and a lot of times the choose like I

want to do this or I want to be good at

this. All right. It's going to be a lot

of things that are going to be tough.

>> Yeah. Okay. So I'll [ __ ] stretch

more. Jesus.

>> You got to

>> I know.

>> You got to I mean it's just it's like a

crusty rubber band. You got to you got

to make sure. Don't don't let it get too

weird.

>> Oh god. Okay.

>> So physically I'm good.

>> So you're physically good and you're

feeling good and your relationship to

acting now feels like what what have you

learned about yourself as you've become

as you've acted more and more?

>> What I what have I learned?

>> Yeah. Yeah,

>> acting and wrestling are the same.

>> The same.

>> Interesting.

>> I don't run the company, so I don't

control who wins and loses.

>> Right.

>> Uh I get a chance to make choices within

my story, but I can't change the finish.

>> Mhm.

>> I should be prepared. I should hit my

time. I shouldn't ask for more than I'm

given. And I should be grateful what I

have. If you do good work and you are

professional, it increases the math of

people calling me back.

>> Right. And also, I got to say, John,

you're such a softy. You were the like

you're really really I talked about it

earlier. You're such a generous person.

You're the person that's given the most.

Um, you know, you've you've fulfilled

more Makea-Wish wishes than any

celebrity, over 650 at this point. You

you do incredible amounts of charity

work. I know that about you. Giving that

amount of time to people is expensive.

It's a lot of energy and and even that

sometimes I'm sure you walk away feeling

like I wish I could have given more. How

do you kind of when you approach people

who are sick and ill? Because a lot of

people are very scared of reaching out

when people are in a tough place. You

know what I'm talking about? It's not

easy to be around especially young

people who are having um perhaps like

who are perhaps at close to the end of

their lives.

>> Remember your why.

>> Mhm.

>> Why am I there? Am I there to be scared?

>> Right.

>> Am I there to be sad?

No. I am there to be the hope.

>> Mhm. M

>> and that is my why. And now I'm retired.

People like Cody, people like Ria,

people like Roman, it's their time to be

the hope. You know what I'm saying?

>> Yeah.

>> Those experiences

renew my faith in humanity.

>> Yeah.

>> They give me gratitude for life.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm so grateful for the people I've met.

>> Yeah.

>> Like, and man, when people are just raw,

emotionally excited, you see it. It's

real. You can't fake it. I like what I'm

learning about you, um, John, is like

you're chase you're you're chasing

emotion. Like you're looking for it. You

like want to have real connection.

>> Don't we all?

>> No.

>> I disagree.

>> Well, I mean, I guess I mean, I guess we

do, but I guess we do at the end.

>> There's no 100% certainty of anything.

There might be a mathematical

>> answer. I guess it's just that people

don't make it a priority, right? Like

they they might want it, but they but

but it feels like you prioritize

connection. That's what matters. I'm

just

>> I'm just I'm just saying like

>> I get what I'm just trying to I'm trying

to do me the best the best I can.

>> You won't take a You won't take a

[ __ ] compliment.

>> I will say at this moment in life

connection swinging them around in the

ring and I'm going to give you a

compliment before the finish. Now

everybody calm down and get quiet so I

can compliment you. And now take a nap.

>> CDA. CDA.

>> It's too late. Um Okay. [clears throat]

Um and so um uh uh the other thing is

you you brought up Cody.

>> Yeah. So, we do a thing on the podcast

where we talk to someone who knows our

guest.

>> I did this for Idris.

>> Oh, yeah. That's right.

>> It's where I gave you the [laughter]

It's where the mythology behind that

bottle of wine. You've pounded during

this show.

>> Oh my god.

>> And forgot that I did your show. Yes.

>> Yes.

>> I remember you did it. What was the What

was the mythology? What is the

>> I told you the next time I see you bring

a bottle of wine.

>> Oh, I did forget that.

>> I wish you would let me remember that

way. I wouldn't have had to carry that

in my bag. [laughter]

This is so fancy this wine. I can't wait

to drink it. Okay, thank you for doing

that for Idris. And um

>> it's Idris. He's my guy.

>> And um Cody talked to us today.

>> I'm so glad you talked to him.

>> Cody Rhodess, first of all,

>> cuz I will say not a lot of wrestlers on

Good Hang.

Trying to You're trying to have a

diverse portfolio of people in the

entertainment space.

Not a lot of WWE superstars. Good hang.

Think I might be numero uno.

>> Yeah. Well, we've got two today.

>> That's right. See, there we go.

>> Chill out. We've reached our goal.

>> I think this is a great day. You've

increased your population by 100%.

>> You're right. And I do want to talk to

more wrestlers.

>> And that's why I started the podcast.

>> No, but you will out of guilt. You be

like, we gota Could somebody get the

number of that guy because we'll have

that'll be crazy.

>> But, you know, I love talking to Cody

and um

>> that's good. Well, first of all, I found

out that um the term baby face, which

>> yeah,

>> absolutely love and uh

>> heal too.

>> Heel. Would I be considered a baby face?

>> So, this is another thing. It's kind of

it's kind of ambiguous. If you went out

and tried to be liked, you would be a

heel.

>> [ __ ]

>> I think if you went out and you yourself

>> baby face,

>> born baby face.

>> And then, uh do women get different

terms in wrestling? Do they?

>> No, the terms are universal.

>> Okay. Love that. Okay. And it was really

fun to talk about him noticing how much

you not only care about your own work

and pay attention to the good work of

others, but that you're kind of

constantly

um learning new things. I mean, you

taught you you learn you know Mandarin

>> a little bit.

>> You know French, I am a

>> little bit.

>> Okay, congrats. Um

>> that so like that's like you know math.

I know a little bit of math. I don't

know all of math.

>> Like I I know I know um speak um could

you order in a restaurant in both those

languages?

>> Yes.

>> Congrats. That's great. Well, Cody was

like, "What are you Cody's question is

such a brotherly question, which is like

what are you going to do with all this

knowledge?"

>> He was like, "Write a book and if you

don't write a book, what's the point of

it all?" [laughter]

>> And then he was like, "What can you not

do?" Well, but Cody was really funny.

His question was really this search for

knowledge and getting like you really

want to know things. What do you what do

you what what's what what's behind that

search? What's behind like the drive for

those things?

>> Am I honoring life correctly?

>> Yeah. But but why do you worry that

you're not?

>> Because look how lucky I am.

>> Yeah.

>> Like am I am I doing enough?

>> Am I doing enough?

>> If I'm not moving forward

>> Mhm.

>> I'm not honoring the luck. I I talk

about like earning the sunset. I'm big

on like honoring the luck. This is not

in my control. This is like the weird

mystical piece of the universe from who

I am when I was born, where I was born,

the opportunities I've been had that are

beyond my control. Just go like hell and

try to honor the luck. It's what I do

alone

>> to focus, stay committed, do something

hard, feel good about myself like it is

mine. But when you go to my wrestling

matches, you're going to be encouraged

to just take take a break and calm down

and take a nap. Just you got it. You

did.

>> You are. You are.

>> I do think productivity is a cur. You

know, it can be a curse.

>> Leaving money on the table. [laughter]

>> Okay, we got a little quick lightning

round. Here we go. What are you reading

>> right now? Uh, mania's crisis and

[clears throat] crashes, eighth edition.

>> What's that? It is a history of market

mania, uh, crashes and, um, bubbles.

>> Uhhuh.

>> Okay, great.

>> Because I just want to know about it.

>> You want to know about it? Okay.

>> It's a tough book to read.

>> Yeah.

>> The South City Crisis, the mania bubble,

and yes,

>> railroad fever in the 1800s. [laughter]

>> An album that you're into right now that

you've been listening to.

>> Uh, old or new.

>> I'm rocking to some cocktail jazz

>> because I want to try to learn how to

play it. But when I'm alone, blues. Like

a John Lee Hooker Howling Wolf Blues.

>> Okay. Uh fun movie you've seen recently

or like a or a comfort movie like one

that's on that if you see it, you're

just like I want to watch it.

>> Just watch Lauren Michaels documentary.

>> Oh yeah.

>> Loved it.

>> Loved it.

>> Like reminds me a lot of what we do. And

man, when I walked the hallowed halls of

Saturday Night Live, like as a single

serving guest

>> Mhm.

The amount of respect I have for

everyone

>> and then him

>> seeing seeing that it was awesome.

>> It was awesome.

>> John, the thing about wrestling,

>> you you know you've made it when

everyone has an impression of you.

>> Totally.

>> He is what a what a amazing person.

>> When I was wrestling in Canada, um okay,

are you are you watching anything fun?

>> We just got through four seasons. This

is going to be taped, but we're taping

it on Will Forte's birthday. Happy

birthday Will.

>> Happy birthday, Will. Happy birthday in

hell, Will. [laughter]

>> That's Tina Faze.

>> Tina's the Four Seasons. Great second

season.

>> So, we just got through the second

season of that. Fantastic. And uh that

Yeah. So, that's that.

>> And then, um you're in the new movie

Little Brother with Eric Andre.

Congratulations on that. And what was it

like working on that and the experience

of working?

>> Eric is an eccentric physical comedian.

[laughter] He is awesome. I got to say,

I've always been impressed by what he

can do.

>> Yeah.

>> Um give give someone the chance to to

show what they can do and you set

yourself up to be surprised. He crushed.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh not only I I read the script and it

came from him and I'm like, "Dude, this

is your vehicle. I will gladly do this

cuz you're going to shine."

>> There's also parts in there that are

really heartfelt.

>> Uhhuh.

>> And he crushed those as well.

>> Yeah.

>> And like what a moment. I think it's

going to be a great movie. It's going to

be a great movie for people who see it

on Netflix. I'm very happy to be a part

of it. I got to do a comedy.

>> Yeah.

>> Where, you know, with comedies, you're

like laughing all the time.

>> Well, this is my last question, which is

like what I know you love to laugh and

you love comedy. What do you What's

making you laugh right now like what?

>> It could be anything.

>> Yeah. Like is there a video, a scene

from a What's something that you like?

>> No, you never know. I think Okay, X

makes me laugh.

>> Yeah.

>> I rule out everything else. A lot of it

is me. Like the joke's on me.

>> Uhhuh. Right. being self like yeah

>> allowing yourself to be a soundboard for

humor not only like eases the tension

you never know what it can lead to

>> right

>> a lot of it is like the big bullseye in

the fuchsia pinstripe

>> right

>> so if you open that door it's kind of

cool and then that gets like you don't

want to be too crazy cuz sometimes ball

busting can be bullying and you always

want to you know cool cool that tea

kettle

>> but a little bit of teasing is like

language

>> the door that like hey

>> look at look at me I'm such an Yeah.

>> And then like, "Hey, let's talk."

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know,

>> see, you're trying to get connection

there. You're back to connection.

>> Laughter helps connection, doesn't it?

If we're laughing about something, we're

talking about something.

>> So true.

>> That's why folks are going to love

little brother. They're going to laugh

and they're going to wake up the next

morning and be like, "What's your

favorite part?"

>> Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Well, Cena, I love

a good hang.

>> It's such a good hang. I love seeing

you. You're so fun to talk to and fun to

work with and um such a considerate,

nice person. Thanks for doing this, pod.

Thanks for the kind words. I probably

will never wear a tie again for anybody,

but you never

>> Oh my god. Thanks.

>> We literally just ran out and got it

across the street.

>> You look great.

>> Thanks.

>> And you just put this together. Like a

lot of those just put together looks are

really trying hard.

>> Well, I realized halfway through I was

like, he's going to show up in a suit.

I'm like, we got And we were like, we

got to get our [ __ ] together. We got

[laughter]

>> Let's go.

paper

that matches. It looks great. Thank you.

I appreciate

>> it. Thank you so much for doing it.

>> Thank you.

>> Y

>> Thank you so much, John Cena. It was so

fun having you here and I can't wait to

take this tie off and get regular

sticking it to the man. But um no, I it

was so fun talking to you and um such a

pleasure always to hear your uh

perspective and POV and for this Polar

Plunge as we wrap up um you know we

talked John and I talked a lot about

comedies '8s comedies those like big

dumb funny things that we grew up on.

And speaking of Big, Dumb, and Funny, um

I just want to remind everybody that Wet

Hot American Summer, a film I did 25

years ago, is celebrating its 25th year.

And there's going to be a million

different ways to go back and watch what

is really genuinely a funny, dumb movie

with a lot of cast members who are at at

the beginning of their careers. Um uh so

check that out if you can and um check

out John Cena's new movie uh Little

Brother and continue to support the arts

and wrestling because if we learned one

thing they are the same thing. Goodbye.

You've been listening to Good Hang. The

executive producers for this show are

Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me

Amy Polar. [music] The show is produced

by The Ringer and Paperkite. For the

Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Cat

Spelain, Kaia McMullen, and Aia [music]

Xanerys. For Paperkite, production by

Sam Green, Joel Levelvel, and Jenna

Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy

Miles.

I could [music and singing] hate.