What John Cena really wore when he presented Oscar naked

John Cena stormed the Oscars stage completely naked on Monday, and now a new photo has revealed what he was really wearing.

It was one of the highlight moments from Monday’s Oscars – John Cena going butt naked on Hollywood’s most coveted stage.

The US professional wrestler turned actor was involved in a streaker skit with host Jimmy Kimmel, stunning audience members and viewers by appearing nude while presenting the award for Best Costume Design.

As it turns out, Cena, 46, did have insurance on his modesty in the event of a mishap.

Newly-emerged photos of The Suicide Squad star from backstage show him wearing a beige-coloured strapless brief, which was wrapped over his body parts.

John Cena is seen backstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards. Picture: Al Seib/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

The actor was wearing a small nude brief. Picture: Richard Harbaugh/AMPAS/AFP

Just before Cena emerged onstage in his birthday suit at the Dolby Theatre at Monday’s 96th annual Academy Awards, Kimmel was talking about the infamous 1974 Oscars when a streaker ran across the stage while David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.

“Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today?” Kimmel asked, as actor Cena could be seen slowly emerging from side stage without clothes on, prompting raucous laughter from the crowd.

“Pssst. Jimmy. I changed my mind, I don’t want to do the streaker bit anymore,” Cena told Kimmel. “I just don’t feel right about it. This is an elegant event.”

Kimmel told Cena he regularly “wrestles naked”, to which the WWE legend argued he “wrestles in jorts”.

“Jorts are worse than naked!” Kimmel said, before handing Cena the winning envelope to announce the gong.

Concealing his modesty with the piece of paper, Cena awkwardly ventured to centre stage as the audience exploded in laughter.

Cena presented Best Costume Design. Picture: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP

He had the audience in hysterics over the nude skit. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images via AFP

“Costumes … They are so important,” Cena began his presentation. “Maybe the most important thing there is.”

Lights then went down as crew members scurried onstage to drape a curtain over the Barbie actor, who presented the trophy to Poor Things’ costume designer Holly Waddington.

While Greta Gerwig’s summer blockbuster only managed to win one award – Best Original Song for Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For? – the Oscars spectacle relied heavily on Barbie fodder to put on a broadcast spectacle.

Cena’s nude skit was one of the most enjoyable segments from the awards, as well as Ryan Gosling’s dazzling pink performance of I’m Just Ken.

Eilish and brother Finneas O'Connell also received a standing ovation when they took to the stage to perform their Oscar-winning song, as A-list crowd members were reduced to tears by the moving set.

Ryan Gosling put on an epic performance of I’m Just Ken. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish performed What Was I Made For? Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kimmel also focused heavily on Barbie’s award snubs in his opening monologue.

He kicked off his speech by addressing the controversial overlooking of Robbie for Best Actress and Gerwig for Best Director.

“Barbie, what a film. What an achievement. To take a plastic doll nobody even liked any more, now Barbie is an icon thanks to Greta Gerwig, who many people believe should be nominated for Best Director,” Kimmel began.

“I know you are clapping, but you’re the ones who didn’t vote for her, by the way. Don’t act like you had nothing to do with this.”

Originally published as What John Cena really wore when he presented Oscar naked