John Cena says he chose denim because it was less likely to split during a match—and he wanted to avoid an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. But the jorts were more than a practical choice: they also fit the street-clothes persona he was building in WWE.
Why did Cena choose denim shorts?
In a 2020 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Cena explained that he wanted clothes that would suit his tough, wannabe-rapper character. As recounted by USA Network, he said denim was a “safe play” compared with cargo pants because he was less worried about ripping them. His punchline was: “I chose denim because you don’t blow the crotch out of denim.”
That is Cena’s own explanation of his clothing choice, not a general finding that denim is safer or more durable than other wrestling gear. The joke works because it turns an ordinary clothing decision into a very specific in-ring concern: avoiding an accidental, highly visible wardrobe malfunction.
How did jorts fit his wrestling persona?
The shorts also suited the character Cena wanted to present. In the same explanation, he said: “I wanted to do some sort of street clothes, because my persona was a tough, wannabe-rapper kid from the mean street of West Newbury — tough to do that in your underwear.”
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In a separate WWE.com interview, Cena described how the look took hold as he adopted a non-traditional personality. “Then, when I started adopting a non-traditional personality, the look kind of went with it. It’s how I became known; rather than try to change it … it just fell into place.” The persona explains why street clothes made sense; denim’s perceived durability explains why he settled on that material.
Did he always wrestle in jorts?
No. WWE reported that Cena wore camouflage ring shorts at Vengeance in October 2011, retiring the jean shorts “for the moment.” Cena said the denim remained in his closet, suggesting the change was temporary rather than a permanent end to the look. His gear could change even after the jorts had become closely associated with him.
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The account of that change appears in WWE’s October 26, 2011 report. It is a useful reminder that the familiar image was a signature look, not a rule for every match.
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- WWE fans can find their favorite Superstar figure or can collect them all (each sold separately, subject to availability).
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What the jorts story does—and doesn’t—prove
- Why denim: Cena said he considered it less likely to rip than cargo shorts, reducing the risk of an embarrassing split.
- Why street clothes: They matched the tough, wannabe-rapper identity he wanted to bring to the ring.
- Why they became iconic: Cena said the look fell into place as he became known for a non-traditional persona.
- What cannot be concluded: These accounts do not establish a universal performance or safety ranking for denim, cargo shorts, or other wrestling apparel.
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