John Cena continues to surprise pro wrestling fans in unexpected ways.
Cena named one of his signature moves the “Five Knuckle Shuffle.” Cena also called his finishing move the “FU” as a nod to Brock Lesnar’s F5. However, he later changed it to a more fan-friendly “Attitude Adjustment.” Despite that change, the Five Knuckle Shuffle kept its name.
In general, the meaning behind the slang term has been known since John Cena debuted the move in 2004. It shouldn’t be too surprising that Cena used an innuendo to name his move, as he was known for working crass references into his work. He’s even told explicit jokes at conventions. This includes the time he told a young fan what his favorite food was (and that he’d get the reference when he’s older).
What does John Cena’s “Five Knuckle Shuffle” actually reference?
However, it appears there are some fans who still didn’t know what John Cena was referencing. One fan searched for answers and reacted accordingly on social media:
I didn't know pic.twitter.com/BuTQbDrxMK
— hoopsjunky (@hoopsjunky54491) May 12, 2025
That’s right — John Cena’s “Five Knuckle Shuffle” is a reference to masturbation. Some people expressed their shared shock, while others noted their surprise that this wasn’t as well-known as they had thought. Were you one of the “lucky” fans who knew the meaning, or did you have a “today I learned…” moment?
After 20 years (and a major heel turn later), it still doesn’t seem likely that Cena will change the name of the move anytime soon.
Anyway… here’s an old video of John Cena teaching Scooby-Doo how to do the Five Knuckle Shuffle at the Scooby-Doo: WrestleMania Mystery red carpet:
@alberttalks Was John Cena even here?? With Wrestlemania around the corner, I had to bust out this clip of John Cena teaching me and Scooby how to do the 5 knuckle shuffle! ? Take notes y’all, learn from the master! #johncena #johncenafan #youcantseeme #wwe #wrestlemania #cena #scooby #scoobydoo @John Cena ♬ bounce i just wanna dance – фрози & joyful
John Cena was victorious and retained his WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WWE Backlash. Check out everything that went down at Backlash here.
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