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Fifteen years into his career as a WWE superstar, John Cena has heard the rumors and assumptions regarding his future.With myriad acting, hosting and marketing opportunities sprouting around him, fans and critics alike have questioned whether the 15-time WWE world champion might soon transition into a part-time wrestling schedule.Further questions abound about whether Cena was ready to follow in the footsteps of Dwayne The Rock Johnson -- whom he calls the ideal example of WWE superstars having talent beyond the WWE ring -- down a road toward full-time crossover into the mainstream.Cena, 39, understands his situation to be unique.Ill answer it like this: Every single day that I dont have an outside obligation, I will fulfill any commitment that I have to WWE, Cena told ESPN.com. And I will attach this quote with it that every outside obligation I have is to expand the brand of WWE and there has never been a superstar to say that before.Cenas plate, at the moment, is considerably full. One day after competing in a triple-threat match for the WWE world championship at the No Mercy pay-per-view, he announced a partnership with Wonderful Pistachios on Monday for a new $55 million advertising campaign.As the voice of a new character, Ernie the Elephant, Cena will debut a pair of Get Crackin ads during Monday Night Football and Dancing with the Stars. Later in the football season, he will be joined in two more ads by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.The character has a bit of a sense of humor; hes not afraid to tell you how he feels, Cena said of Ernie the Elephant. So I kind of fit that mold as well.In between WWE live events, Cena has also been travelling to promote his role on E!s new series Total Bellas, a spin-off of its popular Total Divas reality series featuring WWE superstars. Earlier this year, he starred in a series of Hefty trash bag ads and hosted both the 2016 ESPY Awards on ESPN and the first season of the competition reality series American Grit on Fox.Along with his burgeoning acting career, Cena has proven the crossover ability of his personal brand, from Hollywood to Madison Avenue. Hes quick to remind us that it hasnt been an overnight thing.It hasnt been like, Here kid, heres the key to the city, Cena said. Keep in mind it has been a 15-year journey for me and an over 30-year journey for the WWE. I guess my mission statement is now to let the world know on a global scale that WWE certainly is a wonderful form of entertainment but its superstars are more than just superstars inside the ring. They do so much more outside the ring and have so much more to offer.Along with a tireless work ethic, Cena has become a master of corporatespeak, with subtle product references and polished responses meant to protect the interests of both the company and his own brand. It has left no surprise as to why hes so often called upon to represent WWE in a variety of public forums.The self-proclaimed Face That Runs The Place hasnt been shy, either, about promoting his ability to speak Mandarin or his knowledge of WWEs business plans. Cena is a brand ambassador as much as he is a promoter, which is a role he admits that he envisioned for himself from the very first time he stepped into a WWE ring.Its a reflection of passion, Cena said. The Wonderful pistachios campaign is a great example -- I dont involve myself with a project I dont feel passionate about. I could talk your ear off about internal statistics for WWE and what we have planned for the future. Why do I know that stuff? Because I like to do all that stuff.That sort of depth and feel isnt for everybody. Some people just like getting into the ring and doing what they do.Along with his competing passions outside the ring, the idea that Cena was ready for a decreased workload took greater significance at SummerSlam on Aug. 21 in Brooklyn, New York. Following Cenas loss to AJ Styles, he left behind his armband in the center of the ring.The gesture appeared to be very much symbolic of something greater, akin to when amateur wrestlers leave behind their shoes in the center of the mat following their final match. Moreover, Cena disappeared from WWE television in the subsequent weeks.So was there significance to the gesture that went beyond Cenas on-screen storyline (which included Styles wearing the armband in the aftermath)?Of course there was significance for me in leaving the Never Give Up armband in the ring, Cena said.When pressed for more details, Cena wouldnt budge.Thats for me, man, he said.This is pro wrestling, after all. Its always difficult to tell whether a performer is furthering a scripted storyline when speaking publicly. In Cenas case, there is even more blurring of that line considering hes one of the last WWE superstars to compete under his own given name.While Cena certainly recognizes the advantages of that, hes just as quick to admit the challenges that come with it.There is no off being John Cena, its always on, Cena said. In a way, I think that has helped me, because over the years I have been able to be humble. I have been able to be humiliated in front of the WWE universe in a good way. They have shared in my successes and my failures and it went from 12 years ago this kid trying to make it in the WWE using hip-hop as a vehicle trying to establish an identity to over a decade and a half later everybody just relating to the human being that just is John Cena.Transitioning from a more urban and brash character to the wholesome All-American he portrays today was much more calculated than evolutionary, Cena says. He credits his forward-thinking vision that WWE would soon switch their content to a PG-rated platform (which it did in 2008) and admitted he had become stagnant as The Doctor of Thuganomics.To me, there was definitely some method behind it, Cena said. Hip-hop certainly is in sync with the youth and every day that passes I grow less youthful, as much as I have tried to hold onto it. I knew that the platform really wouldnt be indicative of success. I knew [the PG format] would just drastically change the style and almost cripple the character so I was the one proactively who said no and said I would like to take everything another way.Closing in on age 40, Cena admits that hes working smarter inside the ring and constantly evolving, but that doesnt mean hes holding back on taking risks. He quickly referenced his match with Styles at SummerSlam (praised as one of 2016s best matches), offering it up for folks who need to be critical to go back and watch on the WWE Network.Cenas answers to tough questions are too well-thought out to reveal anything he hadnt planned for, making it difficult to guess just how active he intends to be as a wrestler entering 2017. Hes committed to only choosing outside opportunities that reflect WWE superstars in the best possible light, in an effort to change preconceived notions of pro wrestlers outside of the ring.In July it was announced that Fox had renewed his American Grit series for as second season. He has also taken on more acting roles of late, including appearances in four movies in 2015.As far as his wrestling career, Cena remains committed to giving his all each time he steps into the ring. Its all part of what he calls an eternal promise he has made to himself regarding whether he can still perform at the same level of his peers.Right now the roster is loaded with characters, Cena said. It demands that you perform at your best every single night. I dont believe in shortchanging the consumer. I believe in giving the WWE universe what they want and the day I cant do that is the day I move aside. Yeezy Powerphase Black For Sale . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Ultra Boost 4.0 Triple White For Sale .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. http://www.swiftrunireland.com/adidas-swift-run.html . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Adidas Crazy Byw Level 1 . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Ultra Boost 3.0 Triple Black For Sale . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. LUBBOCK, Texas -- Kliff Kingsbury and his Texas Tech players are drawing on last years close game at Kansas for motivation for the rematch Thursday night.In the 30-20 win, the Red Raiders (2-1) offense was unenergetic and a joke, the fourth-year coach said.They really brought it to us, they were way more physical and it showed on tape and on the field, Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. Its something that we really looked at and are going to go out there and hopefully we can bring the physicality to them here at home.The road has not been kind to the Jayhawks (1-2). The 43-7 loss at Memphis in their last outing was their 39th straight loss away from Lawrence, Kansas.Kansas coach David Beaty hopes to stop the programs winless skid but knows it wont be easy against the nations second-leading offense (678.7 yards per game).Very dynamic, terrific quarterback, he said. Guys out wide are very capable, very capable. Theyve got a couple of really good young running backs, really good running backs, so very difficult.The Red Raiders are 16-1 against the Jayhawks. Here are some of keys to consider as Kansas and Texas Tech open their Big 12 schedule:MAHOMES TARGETSMahomes leads the Big 12 in passing and touchdowns (497.7 yards per game and 14 TDs) in large measure because he has many good receivers: Johnathan Giles (346 yards and five TDs), Cameron Batson (197 yards and three TDs) and RB Justin Stockton (191 and one TD). Mahomes has just two interceptions through three games, one fewer than the same time last season. He has protected the ball well, hes been very accurate, and I think its a credit to him, because he made it a priority, Kingsbury said.TURNOVER TERRIBLESThe Jayhawks are having a rough time hanging on to the ball.dddddddddddd After their first three games, they rank 125th in the nation is turnovers lost (11). They lost six fumbles at Memphis. The last game was not a true statement of who they are as a football team, Kingsbury said. It kind of got out of hand. But Coach Beaty, I know him very well. He does a good job motivating.KINGSBURY AND BEATYThe two got to know one another when Kingsbury was at Houston and Beaty was at Rice, and they coached together at Texas A&M before each got head coaching gigs.Hes very positive, energetic -- what you see is what you get, Kingsbury said. And hes always got a smile on his face.Beaty lauded Kingsbury for more than coaching.Theres not five humans on the earth better than Kliff Kingsbury, he said. You look at him and everybody sees this good-looking dude and handsome guy and they compare him to all these superstars. What you dont know about him is hes one of the finest men youve ever met.KANSAS STANDOUTSteven Sims Jr. is the Big 12s fifth best in receiving yards per game (84.3 yards) and nations 12th best in yards per reception (23 yards). The sophomore from Houston has four TDs and 253 yards on 11 catches.JAYHAWKS PSYCHEIt can be discouraging to lose two straight games this early in the season, a fact that Beaty tries to tend to.The truth is you always manage your psyche, whether youre winning or losing, he said. Its the nature of our game. You dont get to go run and hide under a rock and cry. You deal with it, and you move forward.---Follow Betsy Blaney on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betsyblaney---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '