“The Strongest and Most Hard-Working Woman I Know,” Shay Shariatzadeh, the Wife of John Cena, Spoke Highly of Her Mother!

Shay Shariatzadeh is of Iranian-Canadian ethnic roots.

August 5, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on August 5, 2026

While the wife of former wrestler turned actor, Shay Shariatzadeh, keeps her personal life away from the media, she has openly shared how her parents have played an influential role in her life.

Shay Shariatzadeh comes from a family with a strong academic background.

Shay Shariatzadeh was born in Iran in 1989 and later moved to Vancouver, Canada, with her family.

Having grown up in a family that moved from Iran to Vancouver, Shay represents a blend of Iranian heritage and Canadian upbringing, and she identifies as an Iranian-born Canadian.

Her mother, whose name has not been publicly shared, is a surgeon. While little is known about her father’s profession, Shay has mentioned having a brother who is also an engineer.

She has often spoken about the two biggest influences in her life, i.e., her mother, a surgeon, and her brother, an engineer.

Shay often credits her mother, who made selfless contributions in her life, which is why she is here today.

Despite being at the peak of her medical career, Shay’s mother, a surgeon, made a life-changing decision to move her family from Iran to Canada. She sought a safer and more promising future for her kids.

This selfless act motivated Shay to strive to be her best self, to remain kind, and never to give up.

And to this contribution, in a 2019 interview with Avigilon, a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, Shay spoke about her mother’s strength and sacrifices, saying:

The strongest and most hard‑working woman I know… She gave up everything to move our family to Canada… She is the reason I fight to be the best version of myself… to never give up.

This speaks volumes about how Shay admires her mother’s sacrifice.

An Engineer Brother Who Sparked Her Curiosity!

also mentioned her brother as an influence, particularly in sparking her interest in engineering.

In fact, her passion for math and physics began early on, thanks to her older brother

She described her brother’s homegrown engineering project, an autonomous car, as the defining moment that ignited her ambition. The moment stuck in her mind, which she recalled in an interview:

My brother studied engineering in school, and I remember one day he came home with a project… and that was it!

This curiosity led her to pursue a degree in electrical and electronics engineering at the University of British Columbia in 2013.

She has worked in high-profile roles at companies like Microsoft, Sonatype, and Motorola Solutions.

Previously, Shay was a Software Testing Engineer at Alpha Technologies and also held positions at Avigilon, BrainStation, and The University of British Columbia.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh first met at a restaurant when Shay was out for dinner with friends in Vancouver.
• Cena married Shay Shariatzadeh on October 12, 2026, in a private ceremony at an attorney’s office in Tampa, Florida.

• Check other Articles on

Aditi is an avid music lover whose interest's goes beyond the realm of music, with passion in digital marketing. A Gen Z who loves her personal space and is keen to exploring new things. An optimist who seeks silver lining in every circumstances life throws at her.

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