Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Bear season 3.

The Bear season 3 provides a great deal of comedy through the exploits of the Fak family, with a scene-stealing new member being introduced. As of The Bear season 3’s ending, more outrageously hilarious details about the Faks are revealed. One such detail involves the concept of haunting, the sometimes years-long series of pranks and terror inflicted on a family member who has wronged a Fak in some way. Throughout the first two seasons, only Neil and Theodore appeared as Fak family members in The Bear, though a vast number of them were promised.

Thanks to the Fak connection to the Berzatto family in The Bear season 3, this issue was rectified. Neil and Theodore not only provide a great deal of comedic relief in The Bear season 3, but they also pave the way for a scene-stealing appearance from another member of their eccentric family. In The Bear season 3, episode 5, Sammy Fak plays a role that is brought to life by a major Hollywood actor, potentially even leaving off for more appearances in The Bear season 4’s story.

John Cena Plays Neil & Theodore’s Brother, Sammy Fak, In The Bear Season 3

The Wrestling-Turned-Hollywood Superstar Is A Perfect Fak

Sammy Fak, Neil and Theodore’s brother, is played by none other than John Cena in The Bear season 3. The episode, titled “Children,” sees Carmy and those involved at The Bear preparing for a visit from a photographer. Given that the photographer is taking pictures on behalf of an outlet that secretly reviewed The Bear, Carmy and his staff rush to make the restaurant faultless for the review.

This involves the Faks, Neil and Theodore, who begin cleaning the restaurant from top to bottom. They soon realize they will need assistance to clean The Bear to Richie and Carmy’s standards and enlist their brother Sammy. As Sammy enters the restaurant, the camera quickly reveals him to be played by none other than John Cena, marking another of The Bear‘s fantastic cameos.

Sammy’s Scenes In The Bear Season 3, Episode 5 Explained

Sammy’s Scenes Provide A Great Deal Of Comic Relief In The Bear Season 3

As soon as Sammy enters the scene, it is made clear that The Bear will exploit John Cena’s talent from comedic acting. Sammy brings up the aforementioned Fak family concept of haunting, threatening to haunt Theodore for stealing Sammy’s SD cards. The concept of haunting offers a barrage of hilarious scenes in which Sammy acts incredibly strangely towards Theodore, making the latter uneasy. Sammy continues to do so in order to get Theodore to “say the password,” thus admitting his guilt and absolving him of being haunted.

Regarding how Sammy fits into the bigger story of The Bear, he is brought in as much-needed muscle. Sammy uses his size to buff the floors of The Bear so they are clean enough for the photographer’s arrival. Later, when Carmy and Syd are told they need to prepare the same dish from when the food critic visited the restaurant, Sammy is sent to gather the ingredients. This is the last time Sammy is seen in The Bear season 3 but could leave the door open for future appearances in The Bear season 4.

John Cena’s Sammy Fak Role Continues An Awesome Career Trend

Cena Is Often A Highlight When Used In Small Comedic Roles

Via his role as Sammy Fak, The Bear season 3 makes perfect use of a common Cena career trend. Although he has been great in main roles such as Blockers or Peacemaker – the latter of which he has showcased excellent dramatic acting ability – Cena is sometimes best utilized in smaller, comedic cameo roles. This has been a trend in recent years, with Cena having appeared in huge projects in a smaller capacity but ending up being a standout and someone who remains more memorable than other aspects.

One recent big project in which this was the case was Barbie. Barbie was the biggest movie of 2023 and included a memorable albeit blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Cena. Cena appeared as a mermaid version of Ken, with his flowing blonde wig, fishtail, and screen partner Dua Lipa staying long in the memory. Other projects in which Cena’s roles have been shorter but standouts include Fast X and, now, The Bear season 3. While Cena has proven his dramatic chops in certain projects, small, humorous cameos in the vein of Sammy Fak tend to allow the actor to truly flex his comedic muscles.