John Cena’s not messing around when it comes to romance, especially with his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh.
The WWE icon and Hollywood star just revealed his golden rule for date night, and it’s honestly refreshing in a world glued to screens. No distractions, no endless scrolling, just pure, present vibes.
Speaking to Us Weekly, Cena shared what he thinks makes a date special, and his advice couldn’t be simpler. “Honestly, it can be so simple,” he said. “I was just telling a lady who asked what makes me swoon… I think it’s just being there.” And by “being there,” he means it in the most literal sense, leave your damn phone at home.
“Fun things I do on date night? Put your f’n phone at home. Not in your pocket; I don’t even bring it with me. You only need one person to dial 911,” he joked. But the message is clear, Cena wants full attention and presence when he’s spending time with Shay. “Only one phone, that way we’re both present, and when you’re there, you’re there.”
That kind of mindset might sound old school, but it hits different when it’s coming from someone constantly in the spotlight. The Heads of State actor didn’t stop there. He dropped some real talk about mental space, too. “If your mind is scattered and you’re not ready yet, take a five-minute [break] and tell your partner or the person you’re with, ‘Man, I don’t know if I’m in the headspace to be here,’” he added. “But when you’re there, you’re there.”
For Cena, date night isn’t just about fancy dinners or flashy outings, it’s about intention. He shared that even events like Amazon’s Upfronts, where he was recently spotted, become opportunities for connection. “We try to make a date out of all these things,” he told E! News. “She’s here, and we’re going to have some fun.”
Despite being a public figure, Cena is fiercely private about his relationship with Shay, who’s 36. The couple often shows up to red carpets together, but they keep the deeper details of their life far away from the cameras. And that’s by design.
On Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Cena opened up about why he protects his wife’s privacy so fiercely. “I certainly value her safety and well-being,” he said. “One of the promises I made to her on the altar was, ‘I will do my best not to put you in any undue harm’s way.’”
It’s not that Cena assumes the worst about people, but he knows the risks that come with fame. “It’s not to say that everyone out there has bad intentions or we’d ever run into someone bad, but you also never know when someone feels threatened,” he explained.
He’s consistent about keeping their personal life under wraps, and believes it’s one of the keys to a strong relationship. “We have core values that we both believe in,” Cena told Today in 2023. “And one of those is keeping our information to ourselves and those extremely close to our inner circle. I couldn’t be happier, but I think a way for us to keep our intimacy is by keeping it intimate.”
It’s a grounded perspective coming from someone who’s lived the fast-paced chaos of wrestling rings and Hollywood sets. Cena’s approach, ditch the phone, speak honestly, and prioritize presence, feels like a solid reminder in today’s hyper-connected world.
While he’s not known for oversharing, when Cena does talk about love and marriage, it’s intentional and real. And honestly, that kind of energy is something we could all use more of.
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