Cena: 'I run a parallel life with Tom Brady'

New England's finest athletes tend to stick together.

TMZ Sports caught up with Massachusetts native John Cena after the Patriots clinched their ninth trip to the Super Bowl, and the 15-time WWE champion explained that he sees a lot of similarities between himself and the team's star quarterback.

"I tend to gravitate toward New England because every other sports fan except a Patriots fan doesn't," said Cena. "And me being a storyteller from the WWE, I like the fact that year after year no matter what adversity they face, they always do well, and everyone hates that. So I'm drawn to that. Like I said, I run kind of like a parallel life with Tom Brady."

Cena has remained one of the professional wrestling's top-drawing stars despite constantly facing criticism that his act has grown stale and while facing the constant threat of younger performers aiming to take his spot. He credits his stability in always keeping a level head, a trait he feels he shares with Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

"You can look at it from all the Brady soundbites, all the Belichick soundbites, they don't need to get hype, they just do really, really well," said Cena. "Same with me. If you catch me right before a match, this is my demeanor. But as soon as I come out down to the ring it's a whole different product. So I know that they'll take care of business just like I will.

"I like seeing history made and Tom Brady could become the most successful quarterback by winning his fifth Super Bowl, and maybe I can win a 16th championship."

Cena challenges AJ Styles for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble in San Antonio on Sunday, while the Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl LI the following week.

See the full clip below: