At the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood during Sunday’s 96th Academy Awards, John Cena seized the spotlight on stage.…CONTINUE READING

The WWE luminary and actor, aged 46, received an invitation from host Jimmy Kimmel, who referenced a streaker named Robert Opel running onto the stage during the ceremony’s 50th anniversary, disrupting late actor-presenter David Niven.

Summoned by Kimmel’s jest about the historical incident, Cena was beckoned onto the stage with a playful line: ‘Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today?’

Backstage, Cena whispered to Kimmel, ‘Hey, Jimmy! Over here.’

Kimmel, unable to leave the stage, insisted, ‘I can’t come there – do the thing! Excuse me for a moment.’

Confused, Cena questioned, ‘What’s happening? You were supposed to run across the stage,’ to which he replied, ‘Yeah, I – changed my mind. I don’t want to do the streaker bit.’

Expressing discomfort with the idea, Cena added, ‘I just don’t feel right about it. It’s an elegant event, you know, you should feel shame right now for suggesting such a tasteless…’

Interrupting, Kimmel teased, ‘You wrestle naked, why not?’ prompting Cena to defend his trademark ring attire: ‘I don’t wrestle naked, I wrestle in jorts!’

Sidling onto the stage, Cena covered his modesty with the envelope for Best Costume Design, humorously remarking, ‘Costumes – they are so important – maybe the most important thing there is.’

Struggling to open the envelope, Cena relinquished control to Kimmel, who took over.

Later, Cena adorned himself with a gold toga to present the statuette to Poor Things costume designer Holly Waddington.