John Cena Brings Holiday Cheer as Santa in Netflix’s NFL Christmas Special

One Big Thing

John Cena transformed into a modern-day Santa Claus for Netflix’s NFL Christmas Gameday preshow, delivering laughs while highlighting the streaming platform’s first NFL holiday doubleheader.

Key Details

• Cena starred in a comedic segment as Santa dealing with modern home delivery challenges
• The special introduced Netflix’s NFL Christmas doubleheader featuring:
  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans
• Celebrity appearances included Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Bert Kreischer, and Nate Bargatze

Why It Matters

This appearance signals Netflix’s growing investment in sports entertainment and sets the stage for WWE Raw’s arrival on the platform. The special connects traditional holiday programming with sports entertainment, broadening Netflix’s content appeal.

Looking Ahead

• WWE Raw debuts on Netflix on January 6
• Cena will headline the Netflix premiere
• The appearance is part of Cena’s 2025 retirement tour

By The Numbers

• First-ever Netflix NFL Christmas doubleheader
• Two major NFL games featured in the special
• Five major celebrity appearances including Cena

The Bottom Line

Netflix successfully merged holiday entertainment with sports programming, using Cena’s star power to bridge the gap between WWE and NFL audiences.

What did you think of Cena’s Santa performance, and are you excited about WWE Raw coming to Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments below.