John Cena’s Peacemaker Season 2 Performance Makes Him The Best Wrestler Actor

John Cena proves he’s in the top tier of wrestlers-turned-actors in Peacemaker season 2. Cena’s Chris Smith was a standout member of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, where he served as a major DC anti-hero as well as one of the movie’s antagonists. Despite killing Rick Flag Jr., Cena’s Peacemaker quickly became a fan-favorite, earning his own popular spinoff show.

James Gunn’s Peacemaker season 1 balanced mature humor with gory violence and sci-fi spectacle. Most importantly, though, Peacemaker’s first season featured surprisingly extensive character work for a character like Chris Smith. Smith’s regret over Rick Flag Jr.’s murder and his attempts to truly connect with others made him a fully developed anti-hero. Now, Peacemaker season 2 raises the bar.

John Cena’s Latest Acting Performance Is His Best Yet, Despite Being His Most Complicated

John Cena's Chris Smith reminisces in Auggie Smith's trophy room in Peacemaker season 2 — John Cena’s Chris Smith reminisces in Auggie Smith’s trophy room in Peacemaker season 2

John Cena showcased his acting chops in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1. However, Peacemaker season 2 is where his talent fully shines. In Peacemaker season 2 episode 3, Cena has to play a character who’s pretending to be his alternate-universe self while hiding his guilt over murdering him; all this while conveying his clashing emotions over two different versions of each of his loved ones.

While Peacemaker season 2 retains the comedic tone of its predecessor, it allows John Cena to communicate Chris Smith’s complex feelings through actions and facial expressions more than through exposition. In season 2, it’s easy to spot how much Chris Smith has changed only by watching his reactions. Peacemaker is far more contemplative and emotionally aware than he was in season 1 and The Suicide Squad.

On September 3, 2025, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson received a standing ovation for his lead performance in The Smashing Machine at Venice Film Festival. Following disappointments like Black Adam, Johnson’s acclaimed resurgence may signal the start of a new era for the star’s acting career. Simultaneously, the fact that John Cena is quietly delivering one of his best performances in a DCU show makes Cena’s acting feats especially impressive.

John Cena’s Peacemaker Performance Proves James Gunn Was Totally Right About Season 2

On Threads, James Gunn recalled how John Cena perfectly pulled off Chris Smith’s breakdown in the Peacemaker season 3 episode 1 scene where Chris meets his brother. By just addressing Chris’ feelings, Cena perfectly captured the character’s grief and confusion, without overdoing his performance, in a single take. In episode 3, Cena conveys a different emotion every time he’s confronted with his multiversal dilemma.

As Peacemaker season 2 episode 3’s ending suggests, Chris Smith is growing fonder of the alternate universe he found. A gradual evolution of John Cena’s performance, from grief to doubt to overconfidence and possibly to even more regret, may be in store in upcoming episodes. Looking back, such range was probably unexpected from a character as bombastic as John Cena’s Peacemaker.

In Peacemaker season 2 episode 1’s “Peace by Piece” behind-the-scenes featurette, James Gunn reveals that Robert Patrick improvised the shot where Auggie Smith caresses Chris Smith’s earlobe, prompting a genuine reaction by John Cena. Cena’s reaction and subsequent breakdown is further proof of his acting skills and quick thinking on set. Such interactions elevate Peacemaker season 2 to something more than a simple superhero show.

New episodes of Peacemaker season 2 release Thursdays on HBO Max.