John Cena Reveals Wife’s Reaction to Terrifying Matchbox Stunt

Overall, Cena was grateful that she didn’t let her own fears make the “situation worse,” noting that she “put her personal emotions aside and helped support me in a time of need.”

The WWE star raved, “It’s why she’s my best friend and my partner and a wonderful wife.”

Shariatzadeh’s reaction was exactly the calming force Cena needed as he undertook many of Matchbox the Movie’s wild stunts—all of which director SamHargrave felt confident he could.

“Normally, when Hollywood will say, ‘No, a stunt person’s gonna do that,’ because of Sam’s fluency, I got to face a lot of my fears,” Cena shared, “and do a lot of things that I’m uncomfortable with.”

Namely, Hargrave, a longtime stunt coordinator, helped him confront his fear of heights, which Cena believed stemmed from his years as a wrestler, knowing that each fall would be painful. 

“I hadn’t been able to tackle that fear,” he explained E!. “I was still very scared in doing all that stuff. I didn’t overcome my fear, but I promised Sam I would lean into the uncomfortable and he promised me I would be safe and we both delivered on our promise.”

And thankfully, all the stunts Cena was most afraid of performing made their way into Matchbox the Movie—also starring JessicaBiel and SamRichardson—which premieres globally on Apple TV Oct. 9. 

For more films coming out this year, keep reading.