SEMPER FI `THE MARINE' STAR AND WWE WRESTLING CHAMP JOHN CENA HAS FAITH IN HIS FUTURE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer

When you measure your life in 24-hour intervals, a Monday night bout in South Carolina carries equal weight with the release of your major film debut.

The future will take care of itself, says John Cena, the pro wrestler/rap artist who stars in ``The Marine,'' opening Friday.

``You put your focus on what's going on right now,'' says Cena. ``A lot of the time, you can't control what's going to happen to make it not happen. If you're doing one day at a time, you put in your day's work, go to sleep happy, and you're all set.''

If that seems a rather devil-may-care philosophy from a guy who might legitimately be looking beyond a future of smackdowns and cage matches, well, this is World Wrestling Entertainment champion John Cena talking. And, when you're 240 pounds and built like a miniature Mack truck, what human being in his right mind is going to argue with you?

Films or fights? Or another hip-hop album? Cena insists that his loyalty is with the WWE and says that the answer is ``all of the above.''

``I've already proved it's possible,'' says Cena. ``I've proven that you can do both, and I'm satisfied with the results in the ring. If Hollywood comes calling, that's something they'll have to be aware of.

``Our fan base is so passionate about wrestlers,'' he continues, ``I don't think they want to see another one leave to do movies.''

That last remark is a not-so-veiled reference to Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock), another former WWE star whose mat-to-mall cineplex crossover appears to be complete.

Cena knows The Rock, and applauds his achievements, but says he's walking a different path.

``Just as much as he's driven to only act, I'm driven to do both, because I have so much passion for moviemaking and for sports entertainment,'' says Cena. ``At the end of the day, I'd like to go back to the ring. It's where I feel most comfortable.''

And it's the place he's always felt comfortable, even before he knew it could become a career avenue. Cena grew up in rural West Newbury, Mass., one of five boys and the son of a father who watched wrestling religiously.

Cena played football and studied exercise physiology at Massachusetts' Springfield College. He struck out for L.A. ``on a whim,'' not with any set career goals, but in part because his father said he'd never make it.

``He's got five boys, and he went through a lot to raise them right,'' says Cena. ``My dad just wanted us all to be close. He said that so I wouldn't leave. But it had the reverse effect: `Screw you. I'll prove you wrong.'''

From there, the story takes a Hollywood-ish turn. While working at Gold's Gym, Cena met with a client who was training to be a wrestler and was invited to come down and check out the scene. He got a look at a ring, and something clicked.

``I never knew that that was actually the path you took to become a wrestler,'' says Cena, 28. ``Me being a fan of wrestling all my life and just being a ham in general, it was a natural fit.''

Cena incurred a couple grand worth of debt and went into training at the Ultimate Pro University. WWE officials eventually took note of the 6-foot-1, 240-

pound kid with the hip-hopping taunts, and helped him polish his look. He signed his first WWE contract in 2002. In 2004, Cena-brand product and merchandise exceeded $12 million in sales.

He's on the road more than 310 days per year and has traveled the entire world, with the exception of China and Russia.

``If I could get a few more days in Tampa or Boston, that would be great,'' says Cena, who has homes in both cities. ``You do get to see a lot of the world, but when you've seen Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for the 30th time ... I could tell you more about Poughkeepsie than I could tell you about my hometown.''

Ring successes have led to opportunities to branch out. When he took on his hip-hop ring persona, Cena was given ``the crappiest entrance music I had ever heard.'' Figuring he could write something better, Cena came up with the number ``Basic Thuganomics,'' which would become part of the 17-track hip-hop album ``You Can't See Me'' (2005). The disc has sold more than 400,000 copies.

In ``The Marine,'' Cena's Sgt. John Triton is a former serviceman discharged after he disobeys an order and goes maverick to rescue comrades from an al-Qaida prison camp. Back stateside, Triton has to rescue his wife, who has been kidnapped by murderous diamond thieves.

Co-produced by 20th Century Fox and WWE Films, the PG-13-rated ``The Marine'' is targeted to tween ``Raw'' watchers and their parents. The violence is implied, instead of graphic, the language is F-word free, but the explosions and butt kickings -- most administered by Cena -- are abundant.

The fights -- like the script itself-- were tailored to Cena's strengths.

``In a lot of the action movies today, the fight choreography is so overly technical,'' says Cena. ``A lot of it is wire fighting or very intricate martial arts, which I have nothing against.

``I've been in a lot of fights in my day, and not just in WWE. In the backs of bars, in the streets, and I've never seen any of that. If you look at a lot of the action movies of old -- the `Commandos,' the `Total Recalls,' the `Rambos' -- the action is something that the common person can grasp.''

His WWE image notwithstanding, Cena characterizes his on-screen persona as kind of a muscle-bound Dudley Do-Right. Producer Joel Simon of WWE Films sees Cena occupying the slightly breezier action realm once ruled by Bruce Willis.

``That charm that Willis had, I see John bringing that,'' says Simon. ``He's got a wonderful smile on screen, and that sort of lighthearted good nature. At the same time, you don't want to screw with him.''

Co-star Kelly Carlson (``Nip/Tuck''), who plays the imperiled Kate Triton, calls Cena ``a gentleman.''

``He has a strong work ethic, he's open to learning, and he has no attitude,'' she says. ``He asks for advice, and he gives advice.''

And he'll be back. Simon says another Cena film is in the works, potentially for 2007.

``(WWE chairman) Vince McMahon and everyone else really feels it,'' says Simon. ``John is a movie star.''

At least until the next bell rings.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

[e-mail]

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (John Cena)

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

(2) ``I've been in a lot of fights in my day, and not just in WWE. In the backs of bars, in the streets. ... If you look at a lot of the action movies of old ... the action is something that the common person can grasp,'' says John Cena, World Wrestling champion and star of ``The Marine.''

Shane Michael Kidder/Staff Photographer

(3 -- cover -- color) up to his NECK

WRESTLER/RAPPER JOHN CENA ADDS MOVIE STAR TO HIS RESUME IN `THE MARINE'