The John Cena meme grew out of WWE, where Cena's entrance theme and the shouted introduction became instantly recognisable to wrestling fans. Online creators began cutting the music into unrelated videos in the mid-2010s, using it to turn an ordinary entrance into a dramatic reveal. The format spread through prank videos, edits and short-form clips, where the surprise timing did most of the comedy. It remains popular because the theme is widely known even by people who do not follow wrestling, making the joke land instantly.