-Welcome back to the show.
I gotta say, you were our first in-person guest
when we didn't have an audience,
and now we have a full audience, so thank you for coming back.
-Jimmy, the last time we saw --
[ Cheers and applause ]
This is -- This is amazing.
I mean, last time we were together,
we were wearing body condoms.
I think there were ten people here.
-That's correct. We were like 20 feet apart.
-They tested me in the lobby, and I don't ever want to --
-We don't talk about that. Yeah. Of course. Yeah. I --
-Good to have you back. This is --
-Doesn't it feel good?
[ Cheers and applause ]
-I love a live audience. I really do.
-You miss it, right? -I do.
-You live for it. But, I mean, that's why we love you.
But I remember you said to me,
"Jimmy, I got to be the first guest.
If you're going back to the studio,
I want to be the first guest."
And I was like, "Great, but we don't have an audience."
You go, "I'm just gonna do it just because --
Just for 'The Tonight Show' and just for you."
And I appreciate that.
-Man, I love you. -I know. I love you right back.
-Well -- Okay. So wait a second.
Usually, if I were to be vulnerable,
you would make fun of me. -Yeah.
-And that's kind of how our relationship goes.
I say I love you, and you say, like --
-Yeah, make fun of you. But COVID's changed me.
[ Laughter ]
Now I accept the love, and I give the love back.
-It must be you guys. -[ Laughs ] No, no.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you so much.
-No, I'm about to -- No, no. -Thank you so much.
I'm about to make fun. Now I'm about to -- Now I can make fun.
I do -- I do -- I do just appreciate you.
And I -- But I want to get into some stuff.
"Vacation Friends," congrats on, by the way.
-We got to talk about that.
-We have to talk about "Vacation Friends."
-Or else the bosses will kill me.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I want to talk about --
We got -- Football is back. -Football is back!
-It's happening right now.
So, we got the Bucs versus Dallas.
I know you're a New England boy.
-Yeah, I was born in New England.
-Yeah, and so you're a Patriots fan,
or a Tom Brady fan at one point. -I am a Tom Brady fan.
And just like Tom Brady, I have moved to Tampa Bay.
-You actually did. -I was there first.
I have this secret -- Really, honestly.
I have this secret theory that Tom Brady is stalking me.
-Yeah. He's following you. -We're both 44.
I grew up in New England. He moved to New England.
-That's close enough.
-We've both won respective championships
in our respective fields.
I moved to Tampa. He followed me to Tampa.
-I'm just saying.
Have you guys ever hung out? Have you ever crossed paths?
-No, but I see these weird security cameras
that have been stationed around my property,
and I think maybe he's behind it.
-Yeah, he's behind that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
This summer, you came back to WWE for SummerSlam,
and it was honestly so exciting.
-Dude, it was great! I had a wonderful match.
I finished second place. -No, that's not the way --
No, no. That's not the way wrestling works.
I'm sorry. -Says you!
-That's not the way wrestling works.
Roman Reigns.
It was awesome, by the way, just to see you back there.
Because we talked, and I was like,
"There's hints of you maybe coming back."
And you're like, "I don't know." Because you have --
You had "Suicide Squad."
You got the -- You had the show that's happening,
the series that's coming out now.
And you go, "I'm not sure." Then what happened? WWE --
-I had a month off, and they were like,
"Hey, you want to come to work?" And I was like, "Do I?!"
And they said that live audiences were back,
and I love live audiences! -Yeah, I know. So you...
[ Cheers and applause ]
But how did it feel -- how did it feel
to get back in the ring, get the jorts back on?
-Well, I mean, that was nice. -Yeah.
-That was nice. -You looked great.
-There is no better feeling than being in front
of a live audience. There really isn't.
And I'm so grateful to have all of you here.
I'm so grateful to be back with a live audience.
There is no other energy like performing and entertaining
or telling stories or just shooting the [bleep]
in front of a live audience.
-So thank you very much.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-You remember -- Do you remember the first time
you actually wrestled in front of an audience?
-Yes, I do. -Where was this?
-It was in a gym called L.A. Boxing in Orange County,
and seven people were there.
And I was not good. So nothing's really changed.
-No. Yeah, right.
But did you feel it? Were you nervous?
What -- Did you come out and you were like --
-Oh, man. I'm nervous behind the curtain.
Like, I'm always nervous.
I think if you lose those nerves,
if you lose that anticipatory excitement, like,
"Oh, I don't know how this is going to go,"
like, you got to move on.
I think you're done at that point.
I think you should always have that energy.
-Because I know you do love what you do.
-Yeah, this is fun. -I know.
-We're just talking, and people are listening.
This is great. -I know -- this is great.
Or you're not listening. You're texting. Whatever.
-The people at home, yeah. -They're not listening, either.
-When you were -- -They're like,
"Why is he interviewing no one? Why is it just an empty chair?"
-They don't see you here.
But this is before you were John Cena,
before you were a WWE superstar.
You were known as... "The Prototype."
-I was. Can you -- That's a --
[ Cheers and applause ]
-You were jacked. -That's a crazy picture.
So, that was taken pre-cellphone camera.
And that was a candid by one of my friends.
I had to cover up my man bits
'cause I was going to the bathroom.
-That is not true at all. -That is not true at all.
-No, but explain to me the name "The Prototype."
-So I was 50% man, 50% machine,
and 100% awful.
It was bad. It was -- -It was a bad --
-It was bad. -Well, I have video of you
trash-talking and promoting as The Prototype.
-No way! -And you guys, judge.
See if you remember this.
-I look in your genetic lunch box
and find a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich
with the crusts cut off!
I am 50% man...
50% machine!
You are 100% fatality!
[ Growls ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-A peanut-butter and jelly sandwich!
-With the crusts cut off! Come on!
-Come on, man! -Come on.
-What do you remember?
-That -- So, that was done -- We were --
There was a documentary crew following us around.
And we usually have -- And this is done in --
That was in Southern California.
But when you learn your craft,
part of that is impromptu promo class
where they just put a bunch of people in a room,
and the job is to try to catch you off guard.
And everybody was kind of stumbling,
and they just asked me to get up there and say something,
so I came up with that on the spot
and threw it out there, and they actually put it on TV.
So that actually -- that "genetic lunch box" monologue
kind of kicked the whole thing off for me.
So I wouldn't be anywhere if it wasn't for a peanut-butter
and jelly sandwich with the crust cut off.
-There you go. You're right. Now -- Yeah.
-Weird story.
-Look at you now, though. "Vacation Friends."
This is the biggest original --
Hulu original film in Hulu history.
-People actually watched, and they actually laughed.
-It's really funny. -And I'm so grateful.
Thank you all for watching. Thank you guys for watching.
-It's so good. "Vacation Friends."
They're making a sequel. Already signed up for a sequel.
-Number two. There's number two on the way.
Which is kind of the story of everybody's lives.
-There's number two on the way. -There's number two on the way.
Just waiting for that next number two.
-You have great chemistry with Meredith.
You had great chemistry. Lil Rel, we know.
-Lil Rel's the best. -He's been on the show.
You know what I was going to say to Lil Rel?
Because when I've seen him do stand-up --
I saw him at this charity he did for Denis Leary
called "Comics Come Home" in Boston.
And he was so funny, but his laugh makes me laugh.
He's got like a, "Yeh-yeh-yeh."
Or something like a weird -- He's got a weird laugh,
and he didn't use it in this movie.
And I'm like -- That's the secret move that he has.
-Saving it for the sequel. Spoiler alert!
-It is so funny, though.
If I can set the stage -- Let me do my job a little bit.
So, basically, what happens is...
Lil Rel and his fiancée --
or, at the time, his girlfriend --
go on vacation, and he's about to propose to her.
And their room is destroyed
because the person who's staying upstairs
destroyed it, overflowed their Jacuzzi.
[ Clears throat ]
And then he proposes to her. They can't get another room.
He proposes to her. You -- You and your wife?
-Yeah. Well, no, my partner.
-Girlfriend. You and your partner.
-Yeah. -Are out of control, by the way.
Just two out-of-control idiots.
-We just have a different perspective on life.
-Okay. I think it starts with you riding a Jet Ski
and she's doing bong rips.
-Yeah. -Anyways...
That's how you meet those people.
Anyways, they go, "Hey..." -One guy. "Yeah!"
-I know. He's like, "I've done that! I've done that!"
-"Yeah!" -Yeah.
So then, you go, "Hey, stay in our room.
You guys are in love. You're lovebirds.
Stay in our -- We don't even have to see each other."
-Yeah. -"Just stay in our..."
And that's how the movie kicks off,
and then just ridiculousness ensues.
It is so funny. Did I set it up correctly?
-What's that? -Did I set it up correctly?
-[Bleep]. I hope they watch it. You gave them the whole movie.
-Yeah, I know. Well, yeah. Did I go too much?
Did I go too much? It's so good. I want to show --
Here's John Cena in "Vacation Friends" on Hulu.
Take a look. -What's going on here?
-Oh. Uh, we lost the brakes around Marietta.
E-brake did the yeoman's work till right about now.
Yo, chief! Just in case you need to move it.
-Thank you! -Ha ha!
-So, I think -- I think what Marcus is trying to ask
is, what are you two doing here?
-Oh! Well, you guys, we were so confused
why you didn't call after Mexico.
I mean, come on. We were literally sitting
by the phone for a week being like, "What?"
-But it was my bad, 'cause the card I gave you -- old card.
You had no way to call.
-Yeah, so we did a little Internet stalking,
and then we found out you guys were registered
at Williams-Sonoma in beautiful Atlanta.
-From there, it was easy. Hit every wedding in Atlanta
starting with downtown,
working our way out in concentric circles.
Classic circle-sweep maneuver.
Same thing I used to find lost kids in the cave.
-This time, you weren't too late, sweetie.
-That's what I'm talking about. John Cena!
"Vacation Friends" is streaming now on Hulu.
I am here with John Cena, and he and I...
[ Rimshot ] [ Cheering and applause ]
...are getting ready to go head-to-head --
or face-to-face -- in a game of "Facebreakers."
-Yeah, that's right. -Now, here's how it works.
We're going to take turns throwing footballs
at that wall of glass with our faces on it.
The first person to break all of their opponent's faces wins.
There's John's face. -Yep.
-And there is my face, right there.
[ Laughter ]
Couldn't we have gotten a better face for my face?
[ Laughter ] -It looks good.
-It looks like I was wearing like sunglasses
or like a suntanning --
Why do I have lines in my hair?
-Oh, I just noticed that.
-It's every man for himself.
John, are you ready to start breaking face?
-I'm not, but let's go.
-Alright, you are my guest, so you will go first.
Please, John Cena. -Alright, let's do this.
Alright. Do we have to stand
on the shamrock? -Yeah, yeah, that's a shamrock
for good luck. -Yes, okay.
[ The Roots playing funk ]
[ Audience ohs ]
-Got a little too excited!
-Come on! [ Laughter ]
[ Audience ohs ] ♪♪
-Here we go.
Alright, here we go. We got this.
Alright, let me show you how it's done.
-We're building the suspense.
-Go back and then go forward.
Wham! Boom! [ Rimshot ]
-Ooh! -What's up?!
[ Cheering and applause ] What's up?!
That's one down. That's one down.
♪♪
[ Audience ohs ] [ Rimshot ]
-[ Announcer voice ] With the grace
of a beardless Dan Fouts.
♪♪
[ Cheering and applause ] -That was good.
[ Rimshot ]
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
-I told you we were building suspense!
[ Cheering and applause ] -Dude.
[ Rimshot ]
-Ohhh!
[ Laughter ] ♪♪
-This is so exciting.
[ Laughter ] ♪♪
-You bastard! [ Rimshot ]
[ Cheering and applause ]
[ Rimshot ] -Alright!
Yeah, I got home field.
♪♪
[ Audience ohs ] ♪♪
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
-Dude, you got a good arm. That was good follow through
on that one. -Coach Howell could be proud.
♪♪
[ Cheering and applause ] -Dude.
[ Rimshot ]
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
-It's close. It's close. -This is a close game.
This is a close game. I love this.
♪♪
[ Cheering and applause ] -I don't like you.
[ Rimshot ] -Dude.
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
Dude, what is going on?
-I don't know! -This is amazing.
I should try out for the NFL. [ Laughter ]
This is the best I've ever done in my life.
♪♪
-[ Announcer voice ] Wearing the colors
of Ken Stabler,
he tries for the long pass.
I got to throw it a little touch.
[ Audience ohs ] Oh!
♪♪
[ Audience ohs ] -Ooh!
-Alright. I got to hit the high one.
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
[ Laughter ] ♪♪
-Alright, I got to get two.
Oof, oof, oof, oof, oof, oof, oof.
[ Laughter ] ♪♪
-Ohhh!
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
[ Cheering intensifies ] ♪♪
-I would like to offer you a draw.
-No! -No!
[ Audience shouting "no" ]
-No way! -Okay, fine!
-No way! Good luck! -Fine, that's fine.
You don't want the draw? -Good luck!
I don't want the draw! -Then fine!
-Let's go! -Eat this, Fallon!
[ Drumroll ]
[ Audience ohs ]
-You're going down, buddy!
[ Audience ohs ] -Should we go with the draw?!
-No! We got to --
Are we out of footballs?
-Throw the buckets. -Throw the buckets.
[ Laughter ]
-Fine.
We throw the buckets. -Yeah, throw the buckets.
-Do I go first? -Yeah, I'll go --
-Should we simultaneously throw? -Simultaneously throw.
Ready? -Alright.
-Throw the bucket.
-On 3? -1...
-Is it 1, 2, 3, throw? -1, 2, 3, throw.
-1, 2, 3, throw. -Yep.
-[Both] 1, 2, 3.
[ Thudding ]
[ Cheering and applause ]
[ Cheering and applause ] [ Rimshot ]
-That's how you build suspense!
[ Laughing ] That's how you build suspense.
-[ Laughing ]
That was the way to do it, right there.
John Cena! [ Cheering and applause ]
[ Rimshot ] That's the champion.
That's the champ, right there.