WWE legend John Cena reveals how he was homeless and living in his car before $12,500-a-year contract

WWE legend John Cena revealed he was homeless before achieving professional wrestling superstardom.

Cena , 47, pursued a wrestling career in 1999 after swapping his home in West Newbury, Massachusetts for California.

The Champ linked up with some independent promotions but the odd payments he earned weren't enough to rent a place.

And so The Leader of the Cenation had to sleep in his car outside the gym he worked and trained at.

However, the ex- WWE Champion set the record straight by insisting that his predicament was a choice as he could have always moved back to his parents' place.

Cena told ex-NFL star Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast : "I was homeless by choice.

"I don't regret those days. The struggle is a lot more entertaining when you want to do it.

"A tough practice is more rewarding when you know, 'This is the work I have to do to get to the goal'."

Cena's trials and tribulations paid off as he was signed by WWE in 2000 and made his main-roster debut in 2002.

However, the American grappler's first contract was worth a mere $12,500 (£9,388) per year.

But everything changed in 2003 when he adopted a rapper gimmick and went on to become one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time.

Cena won 16 world titles, a record he shares with Ric Flair, and beat some of the all-time greats, such as Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar and more.