John Cena Wife: Who Is Shay Shariatzadeh? Age & Net Worth
Who is John Cena's wife? The WWE legend and Hollywood star has been married to Iranian-Canadian engineer Shay Shariatzadeh since October 12, 2020, after the couple met by chance in a Vancouver restaurant in early 2019 while Cena was filming Playing With Fire. Unlike most celebrity spouses, Shariatzadeh has built a serious career of her own — she holds a bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of British Columbia and has worked as a product manager in the tech industry. In this profile we break down her age, background, career, the couple's secret wedding, and how they keep their marriage out of the spotlight.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shay Shariatzadeh |
| Born / Age | September 21, 1990 — 36 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Iran (raised in Vancouver, Canada) |
| Profession | Engineer and product manager |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Spouse | John Cena (married October 12, 2020) |
| Children | None publicly known |
| Education | University of British Columbia — Electrical & Electronics Engineering |
| Known For | Wife of John Cena; keeping a low public profile |
How John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh Met
The love story began far from the glare of WrestleMania. In February 2019, Cena was in Vancouver filming the family comedy Playing With Fire when he crossed paths with Shariatzadeh at a local restaurant. He later told Howard Stern that a fan at the restaurant asked for a photo, and Shay — standing nearby — caught his eye. Cena struck up a conversation, asked for her number, and texted her on his walk home that same evening rather than waiting the customary few days.
The pair were first photographed holding hands in Vancouver in March 2019, and by October of that year they were making red-carpet appearances together — their debut as a couple came at the New York premiere of Playing With Fire. At the premiere, Cena told Entertainment Tonight that the film would always hold special meaning because it was where he met "someone special."
The relationship was a fresh start for Cena, whose six-year engagement to fellow WWE star Nikki Bella had ended in 2018. Cena had previously been married to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 to 2012.
The Secret Wedding — and the Second Ceremony
Cena and Shariatzadeh married in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida, on October 12, 2020, filing their marriage certificate just days beforehand. The wedding took place in an attorney's office with virtually no fanfare — news only broke afterward, first via PW Insider and then confirmed by Entertainment Tonight. The couple had kept even their engagement out of the public eye.
Because the 2020 ceremony was so small — COVID-19 restrictions meant no family or friends could attend — the couple held a second, larger wedding ceremony nearly two years later. In July 2022, they exchanged vows again in front of loved ones at a Vancouver venue, with TMZ photographing the event and Cena confirming it with a two-word tweet: "I do."
Who Is Shay Shariatzadeh? Career and Background
Shariatzadeh was born in Iran and moved to Canada as a child, where she was raised in Vancouver in a family that prized education. She has described her mother — a surgeon who gave up the peak of her medical career to move the family to Canada — as the most hardworking woman she knows and a defining influence on her work ethic, in a Q&A with her former employer Avigilon for International Women's Day 2019, as reported by Parade.
She earned her bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2013. Before moving into engineering and product management, she worked retail jobs at La Vie en Rose and Guess during her student years, then joined Avigilon — a Motorola Solutions company headquartered in Vancouver — as a product manager, overseeing product launches and working with external partners. By her own account she chose product management as a blend of technical, business, and people skills.
Unlike Cena, Shariatzadeh maintains no public social-media presence and rarely gives interviews. She has appeared alongside him at major premieres — including Fast X in Rome in 2023 — but has otherwise stayed firmly out of the celebrity ecosystem.
Married Life in 2026
Six years into their marriage, the couple remain one of Hollywood's most private pairs. They are based primarily at Cena's home in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, though Cena's acting schedule takes him around the world. In June 2026, at the New York premiere of Heads of State, Cena called his wife his "number one passion," telling Extra TV that his top priority — even ahead of his post-WWE acting career — is his wife.
Cena wrestled his final WWE match in December 2025, closing out a more than two-decade career that included 16 world championships. Shariatzadeh has supported him through that transition from full-time WWE star to Hollywood actor, and the couple have consistently declined to discuss details of their private life.
What Is Shay Shariatzadeh's Net Worth?
Unlike her husband, whose career earnings span wrestling, acting, and endorsements, Shay Shariatzadeh's personal net worth has not been publicly disclosed. She earned a professional salary as a product manager before her marriage, but no reputable outlet has published a verified figure, and she has never discussed her finances publicly.
From WWE to Hollywood: The Retirement Years
December 2025 marked the end of an era: Cena wrestled his final WWE match, closing out a career that spanned more than two decades and included a record-tying 16 world championships. His transition to full-time acting had been building for years, with starring roles in The Suicide Squad (2021), Fast X (2023), Argylle (2024), and the Max series Peacemaker, plus the 2026 action film Heads of State. Through every phase, Shariatzadeh has been the constant — present at premieres but never chasing the spotlight herself.
The couple's approach to fame is deliberate. They rarely walk red carpets together, give no joint interviews, and have declined to monetize their relationship in any way — no reality show, no tell-all, no sponsored couple content. In an era when celebrity marriages are often content strategies, their refusal to play the game is precisely what keeps fans curious. Cena has said that his wife is his "number one passion," and that staying healthy so he can be the best husband he can be is his top priority now that the wrestling chapter is closed.
Celebrity Spouses in the Sports World
Cena is far from the only athlete whose partner keeps a deliberately low profile, though his wife's engineering career makes her unusual among celebrity spouses. Other former wrestlers have taken very different post-ring paths — Tyrus built a second career in conservative media at Fox News, while Jake Paul leveraged his fame into professional boxing. In the wider sports world, stars such as Travis Kelce show how an athlete's public relationship can become part of the brand itself — the opposite of the Cenas' approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Cena's wife?
John Cena's wife is Shay Shariatzadeh, an Iranian-born Canadian engineer and product manager. They met in Vancouver in 2019, married privately in Tampa in October 2020, and held a second wedding ceremony in Vancouver in 2022.
How old is Shay Shariatzadeh?
Shay Shariatzadeh was born on September 21, 1990, making her 36 years old as of October 2026. She is about 13 years younger than John Cena, who was born in 1977.
When did John Cena get married to Shay Shariatzadeh?
Cena and Shariatzadeh married on October 12, 2020, in a small private ceremony in Tampa, Florida. They later held a larger wedding ceremony with family and friends in Vancouver in July 2022.
What does John Cena's wife do for a living?
Shariatzadeh is an engineer and product manager. She earned a bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of British Columbia and worked as a product manager at Avigilon, a Motorola Solutions company.
Does John Cena have children with his wife?
No. As of 2026, John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh have no children together, and neither has publicly discussed plans for a family.
Was Shay Shariatzadeh married before John Cena?
No public record indicates Shariatzadeh was previously married. Cena, however, was married once before — to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 to 2012 — and was engaged to Nikki Bella from 2017 to 2018.
