John Cena Shares What Most Don’t Know About His Private Marriage

John Cena is opening up about his marriage to Shay Shariatzadeh, offering a rare look into their relationship and how they manage public attention.

While speaking to E! News at Amazon’s Upfronts event in New York City on May 12, the WWE star and actor shared that he and Shariatzadeh turn red carpet events into opportunities to spend time together. “We try to make a date out of all these things,” he said. “She’s here and we’re going to have some fun.”

The couple married in a private ceremony in 2020 and are occasionally seen at public events, but they continue to keep most of their relationship out of the spotlight. Cena said they always “dress to impress,” but privacy is a priority. During an April 2024 episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast with Dax Shepard, Cena said one of the promises he made on their wedding day was to protect her: “I will do my best not to put you in any undue harm’s way.”

Shariatzadeh, who works in tech, keeps a low profile and stays off social media. Cena said he respects her boundaries and that it’s important for him to make sure she feels safe in unfamiliar environments. “If my wife, who is my travel partner and partner in life, now feels unsafe or uncomfortable in all these new places we go, I’ve got another hurdle to climb in my personal life,” he said.

In a May 2023 interview with Today, Cena reflected on the strength of their relationship. “She loves me for who I am, and I love her for exactly who she is,” he said. “We have core values which we both believe in, and one of those is keeping our information to us and those extremely close to our inner circle.”

Who Is Shay Shariatzadeh?

Shay Shariatzadeh is an engineer and product manager with a background in electrical and electronics engineering. She was born in Iran, raised in Vancouver, and graduated from the University of British Columbia, according to People. Her mother, a surgeon, has been a major influence in her life.

Before her current role at enterprise software company Sonatype, Shariatzadeh worked at Motorola Solutions, where she focused on thermal camera and intercom system research.

She met Cena in March 2019 while he was filming “Playing with Fire” in Vancouver. The two made their red carpet debut later that year in October and married in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida, on October 12, 2020. In July 2022, they held a second wedding celebration in Vancouver.

Shariatzadeh prefers to stay out of the public eye. She does not have social media, and Cena has made it clear that protecting her privacy is something he takes seriously.

Cena’s ‘Uncomfortable’ Conversations on Marriage and Parenthood

Before marrying Shariatzadeh, Cena was engaged to former WWE star Nikki Garcia. The couple ended their engagement in 2018, shortly before their planned wedding. Since then, Cena has been open about not wanting children.

In a 2024 interview on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe, Cena said he’s always been upfront about his views on parenthood. “I’ve always said I don’t want kids,” he explained. “I don’t think it’s right to bring a child into this world unless you’re prepared to give everything.”

He also shared how he approached the conversation early in his relationship with Shariatzadeh. Cena said having those conversations early on was important, even if they were difficult’. 

“Nothing is too uncomfortable to be unapproachable,” Cena added. “Starting off with a conversation about … what is the definition of our family … helped us forge a path together as a team.”

He continued, “there is somebody out there for everyone … who has the same values.”