John Cena Reveals Origin of His ‘You Can’t See Me’ Taunt

John Cena’s signature taunt has become one of the most recognizable gestures in wrestling history—but the origin of “You Can’t See Me” started as a throwaway joke on a show nobody watched.

While speaking on ESPN’s First Take, the 16-time WWE Champion gave some backstory on how his now-iconic move came to life. According to Cena, it was born out of a moment where he figured no one was paying attention.

“I was on an obscure Saturday program called Velocity, no-one ever watched it, so I’m like, ‘Fine, nobody’s watching – You guys can’t see me.’ It stuck and here I am…”

That offhand moment became a permanent fixture in pop culture, transcending wrestling and showing up in memes, sports celebrations, and even classrooms. Cena’s ability to turn a joke into a branding goldmine reflects the same instinct that made him a WWE icon.

Elsewhere in the same interview, Cena also explained why he’s not handpicking his final opponent, choosing instead to let WWE’s “Time Is Now” tournament determine his last match. He stressed that it’s about giving others a real shot, not settling a personal score.

“Everyone was like, ‘Who does John Cena want to face?’ And the way I got my start in WWE was through random opportunity. I got my first match because The Undertaker was sick.”

“So I don’t want to face anyone. I don’t want to handpick anyone. I want people to get a chance to showcase their skills and earn the right for opportunity.”

Cena may be on his farewell tour, but he’s doing it with purpose—and a sense of humor that never left him.

What do you think of the origin behind Cena’s iconic taunt? Drop your thoughts below—we want to hear from you.