John Cena has offered a strong endorsement of Cody Rhodes’ approach to promoting the upcoming Street Fighter movie, praising the WWE star for embracing his role as Guile rather than treating the film’s press cycle as a straightforward celebrity appearance.
Rhodes has drawn attention in recent months by appearing in Guile-inspired attire while discussing the video-game adaptation. The choice has invited comparisons to Cena’s promotional work for The Suicide Squad and the subsequent Peacemaker television series, when Cena frequently brought the Peacemaker character and costume into media appearances.
Asked to weigh in on the comparison, Cena rejected the premise of framing either performer’s promotional commitment as something negative. Instead, he explained that his own experience in WWE helped him understand the value of visually introducing an audience to a character, particularly when that character is not yet widely known outside of a specific property.
“Worse is like the half empty perspective. You know me, I’m a glass half full guy,” Cena said. “What I admire about both of those things is when we were doing The Suicide Squad, from WWE I learned how important it is to show the character, be in character, show the uniform.”
For more background on this topic, read John Cena Connects WWE Falls to His Fear of Heights While Filming Matchbox.
Cena’s comments speak to a lesson that has long been central to professional wrestling. Presentation is not merely supplemental to a character; it is often the first way a viewer understands who that character is. A wrestler’s ring gear, posture, entrance, colors, catchphrases, and physical mannerisms can establish an identity in seconds. Cena believes that same thinking can be useful when performers shift into film promotion.
For Cena, the Peacemaker campaign had a particular challenge. The Suicide Squad featured an ensemble of comic-book characters, and Peacemaker did not have the same level of instant recognition as some of the better-known names in the superhero genre. Cena said that made it important to present the character clearly and consistently during press appearances.
“The Suicide Squad was a movie with a bunch of superheroes, I chose to do all the media in character because nobody knew Peacemaker,” Cena said. “Because of that, it might’ve been a small piece of allowing Peacemaker to exist in a universe beyond The Suicide Squad.”
That approach ultimately became part of the broader public identity of Peacemaker, a role that extended beyond the film into its own television series. Cena did not claim that promotional attire alone created that success, but his point was that a performer can help make a character easier for viewers to recognize, remember, and connect with before they ever see the finished project.
Rhodes is now applying a comparable idea to Street Fighter. While Rhodes is highly recognizable to wrestling audiences as one of WWE’s top stars, his work as Guile asks viewers to see him through a different lens. Cena specifically praised Rhodes for understanding that distinction and for putting the spotlight on the movie’s character rather than limiting attention to Cody Rhodes the public figure.
“I champion Cody for his ability to lean into his part,” Cena said. “People know Cody Rhodes, but maybe don’t remember Guile from Street Fighter. Maybe for people it brings out nostalgia to see somebody dressed as Guile from Street Fighter.”
Guile is a particularly notable role for a wrestler entering the Street Fighter world because the character carries decades of history with fans of the game franchise. For audiences who remember Guile’s unmistakable look and military presentation, Rhodes’ decision to reflect those elements during press appearances can function as an immediate visual reference point. For viewers with no prior connection to the games, it can still create a more defined first impression of the character.
Cena’s praise also emphasized the willingness required to make that choice. A major media appearance can be an opportunity for a performer to reinforce their own individual profile, especially someone as established as Rhodes. Cena sees value in Rhodes choosing instead to make the appearance part of the film’s larger campaign.
“Hats off to Cody for being brave enough to take a moment that could be focused on him as a person, and he realizes that it’s larger than that and the goal is to make sure that people enjoy the movie and know your character when they see it,” Cena said.
That is a meaningful endorsement from Cena, whose career has increasingly shown how skills developed in wrestling can translate to other forms of entertainment. WWE performers are accustomed to working with clear identities and broad visual storytelling. They also understand the importance of repetition: a character becomes memorable when the audience repeatedly sees the same core traits expressed in different settings.
In Rhodes’ case, the Guile-focused promotional work does not erase the Cody Rhodes identity that WWE fans know. It adds another layer to his public presence as he prepares to enter a major movie release. His wrestling audience already understands the value of commitment to presentation, making his decision to lean into Guile a natural extension of the performance instincts he has developed in the ring.
Cena made clear that he views the idea as a beneficial decision for the film, regardless of whether Rhodes was influenced by Cena’s Peacemaker campaign.
“I think it’s a heck of an idea by him,” Cena said. “Whether I was where he got it from or not, I’m very proud of him for his choice and I think it’s a great decision for the movie.”
The comments are especially notable because Cena and Rhodes occupy different points in their respective Hollywood journeys. Cena has accumulated a substantial body of film and television work, including roles that have required him to balance action, comedy, and larger-than-life character performance. Rhodes remains one of WWE’s most prominent active stars while taking on a role tied to one of gaming’s most recognizable fighting franchises.
Yet Cena’s assessment is not framed as a veteran telling another performer how to handle the transition. He instead applauded Rhodes for recognizing the purpose of the promotional assignment. In Cena’s view, the point is not simply to generate attention for a familiar name. It is to make sure the audience leaves with a clearer understanding of Guile and a greater interest in seeing the movie.
Roman Reigns Also Joins the Street Fighter Cast
Rhodes will not be the only WWE-connected name in the film. Roman Reigns is also part of the cast and will play Akuma. The presence of both Rhodes and Reigns gives WWE fans an additional reason to follow the project, even as their roles place them within a story and franchise outside the wrestling environment.
The involvement of Rhodes and Reigns also continues a familiar trend of top wrestling names receiving opportunities in mainstream entertainment. Their participation brings existing fan interest to the movie, while the scale of a theatrical release can introduce their work to audiences who may not regularly follow WWE programming.
For Rhodes, the promotional strategy has become part of the conversation leading into the release. Cena’s response suggests that the Guile look should be understood as more than a novelty. It is a deliberate effort to place the character at the center of the campaign, using a method that Cena believes wrestling helped teach him.
Street Fighter Release Date
Street Fighter is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Friday, October 16. With the release date approaching, Rhodes’ Guile appearances and Reigns’ portrayal of Akuma will remain points of interest for wrestling fans watching how two major WWE names translate their presence into the world of video-game cinema.
Cena’s message is simple: character commitment can help a project stand out. Rather than viewing Rhodes’ Guile presentation as an awkward detour from his established WWE persona, Cena sees it as a smart act of promotion—and one he believes serves both the role and the movie.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.