The 96th Academy Awards marked the 50th anniversary of the infamous 1974 moment when a streaker ran across the stage behind host David Niven as he introduced Elizabeth Taylor. At the 2024 Awards, Kimmel mentioned the moment, cueing Cena’s entrance saying, “Can you imagine a naked man at the Oscars today?”
He then repeated the line, emphasizing each word before Cena tentatively stuck his head out from the wings, revealing his bare chest. Kimmel and Cena had a back-and-forth as the wrestler-turned-actor explained that he’d changed his mind about doing the streaker bit. Kimmel feined frustration as Cena argued that it was inappropriate at such an “elegant” event. Kimmel lobbed back the accusation that Cena wrestles naked, to which he replied, “I wrestle in jorts!”
“Jorts is worse than naked!” rebutted Kimmel.
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Finally, after much cajoling, the naked Cena emerged from backstage, strategically holding a winners’ envelope in front of his private parts. It was then revealed that Cena was introducing the award for Best Costume Design as he said, “Costumes are so important. Maybe the most important.” The remark evoked laughs as his nudity drove home the truth of his statement.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, Cena really was naked (or at least he was from behind). Host of entertainment podcast The Talk Matthew Belloni tweeted a side view of Cena showing his naked butt.
Kimmel returned to the stage to announce the nominees since Cena couldn’t open the envelope without exposing himself. After a clip package, the camera cut back to Cena now sporting a pink curtain trussed like a toga, seemingly pulled from the stage itself (or at least meant to look like it was).
But unlike the streaker — of whom David Niven famously quipped, “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off his clothes and showing his shortcomings?” — Cena gives the Oscar a run for its money for most impressively toned naked man on that stage.