John Cena jokes with Amy Poehler about Boston roots on 'Good Hang' podcast

John Cena and Amy Poehler trade jokes over Massachusetts roots on 18 Jun episode

John Cena and Amy Poehler traded playful jabs over their shared Massachusetts roots during a 18 Jun episode of Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast. The former WWE star pushed back when Poehler, a Burlington native, called him a Boston guy, sparking a lighthearted debate about why Bay Staters always claim the Hub.

What happened on the ‘Good Hang’ podcast

Cena joined Poehler on Tuesday’s episode to chat about growing up in the Bay State. He described his West Newbury childhood as “like out of a movie,” recalling 1200-person towns where neighbors lived acres apart and kids rode bikes everywhere. “It was like ‘Goonies,’” he said. “Twelve-hundred people, and in 1985, your neighbor is acres away, and you got to ride bikes everywhere.”

Why it matters for John Cena

The segment underscored Cena’s pride in his Massachusetts roots while poking fun at the state’s reputation for claiming Boston ties no matter where you grew up. Poehler, who grew up in nearby Burlington, argued that everyone from the Bay State calls themselves Boston natives. Cena fired back: “I grew up in West Newbury. We got to take Boston out of the equation.” Anything outside Boston, he added, “no one cares.”

Cena’s childhood fights and fashion fights

Both comedians swapped stories about scrappy Massachusetts upbringings. Poehler recalled daily fights after school in her high school, even among girls. Cena, meanwhile, described getting bullied as a scrawny kid who dressed like MC Hammer and Bel Biv Devoe. “I got the [expletive] kicked out of me every day,” he said. Instead of backing down, he doubled down, heading straight to Liberty Tree Mall to find even louder outfits. These days, Cena said, the love from his hometown is overwhelming.

What comes next for the ‘Good Hang’ crew

Poehler and Cena closed the segment by praising Bostonians’ blunt honesty. “You always know from Bostonians how they feel,” Poehler said. “They tell you to your face you’re good, you’re bad, I like you, I don’t like you.” Cena agreed, calling it “weird” but authentic. The episode aired on 18 Jun and is now available on major podcast platforms.