John Cena admits he and wife ‘navigate’ their marriage and career ‘as we see fit,’ but that balance recently took a hit

John Cena opened up about his marriage to wife Shay Shariatzadeh during the Peacemaker season 2 premiere in New York City on August 13. The 48-year-old actor and wrestler appeared on the red carpet with his wife, where they shared sweet moments, including kisses and Cena gently fixing her hair during their public appearance.

The couple has been making headlines, leaving fans gushing over their rare public display of affection. Since the couple typically keeps their relationship private, making their red carpet appearance and public displays of affection is particularly notable among beloved celebrity couples for fans and the media.

Speaking to People at the premiere, Cena opened up about the challenges of balancing his career with his marriage. “We need a date night, honestly, like we really do,” Cena admitted. The actor explained that his busy calendar with WWE appearances and filming projects has made it difficult to spend quality time with Shariatzadeh, despite dealing with his own performance challenges. “Work has been demanding, and through communication, we understand what the calendar is and we navigate those paths as we see fit,” he added.

Cena plans romantic European dates during upcoming film project

The Heads of State star revealed that he plans to make up for lost time with his wife during his upcoming filming schedule in Europe. Cena will be working on his new Netflix comedy Little Brother with Eric André, which will take him to various European locations, including Dublin and France.

During his European filming schedule, Cena said he intends to steal romantic moments with his wife whenever possible. “We may steal a second in Dublin. I know I got a chance over there,” he shared. “We’re headed to France. I’ll make sure to get in early so that at least we can share a coffee in the street.” The actor expressed excitement about having date opportunities with his wife in more romantic European settings.

Cena and Shariatzadeh first met at a restaurant in 2019 and have maintained a relatively private relationship since then. They tied the knot in October 2020 at an attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida, before holding a larger ceremony in Vancouver, Canada, in July 2022. Shay Shariatzadeh, an Iranian-born Canadian engineer, is the woman who stole WWE star and Hollywood actor John Cena’s heart. She works as a product manager at tech companies and has expertise in areas like thermal cameras and enterprise software.

The couple has deliberately kept their relationship out of the public eye, with Cena citing safety concerns as a primary reason. On Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, he explained that one of his promises to his wife was to never put her in harm’s way. “It’s just an exercise in the strength of boundaries and the value of boundaries,” he said. In a recent PEOPLE cover story, Cena emphasized the importance of privacy, stating, “It’s okay to keep some stuff for yourself. There’s bravery in boundaries.” Peacemaker season 2 premieres on August 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.