John Cena to Host the 2016 ESPY Awards

WWE superstar will help commemorate the past year in sports

By Kendall Fisher May 19, 2016 4:51 PMTags
John CenaNeilson Barnard/Getty Images

John Cena has been named the host for the 2016 ESPY Awards.

The WWE superstar and executive producer of American Grit will join up with athletes and celebrities to commemorate the last year in sports, reliving memorable moments and awarding top performers. 

"It is truly an honor to be named host of the 2016 ESPYS," Cena said in a statement. "Not only will the biggest names in sports and entertainment come together to recognize some of the most spectacular athletic performances of the year, but we'll also raise funds for The V Foundation to further much needed cancer research."

 

In fact, the ESPYS raise more than $1 million annually for The V Foundation—a charity founded by ESPN and late basketball coach Jim Valvano to promote cancer research.

 

Cena is the perfect fit for the role as he devotes a lot of his time to working with numerous charities. Not only is he Make-A-Wish foundation's most requested wish granter of all time (the only celebrity to grant 500 wishes), but he is also committed to the Susan G. Komen foundation and its support of breast cancer research and awareness.

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Furthermore, the Trainwreck actor is a longtime supporter of the U.S. military and was recognized by USO Metro as the recipient of their 2016 Legacy of Achievement Award.

Executive producer of the ESPYs, Maura Mandt, put it perfectly, saying, "John is not only a superstar athlete and entertainer, but also a motivational force who inspires fans across the globe. John approaches all of his endeavors with energy, enthusiasm and passion, so we expect him to bring a new level of excitement to the night's celebration."

 

The show's previous hosts include: Drake, Joel McHale, Samuel L. Jackson, Lebron JamesJimmy Kimmel and more.

 

The ESPYS will be broadcast live on Wednesday, July 13 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.

 

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