WWE superstar John Cena took some time off after losing his U.S. championship to Alberto Del Rio at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view last Oct. 25. Cena was chosen to host FOX's new reality competition show called "American Grit."

Zap2it visited the 15-time WWE World champion at the set of his new show and asked why he chose to take the hosting job. Cena has rarely taken a break from wrestling except when he is recovering from injury or filming a movie.

"I've been a cornerstone of WWE programming since 2002, so much so that a portion of our audience has direct complacency with me. 'Man, Cena holds everybody down. He doesn't give the new guys a chance.' From a company perspective, as you know I hold it very near and dear to my heart, the dance floor is open, boys," Cena answered.

"I'm gone, let's see who steps up. As much as I want to try to distance myself or as much as someone who views me would try to distance myself from WWE, I'm never going to go," he added.

His absence has been felt by the WWE, especially with the injuries to former WWE champion Seth Rollins and Randy Orton. The wrestling company has suffered due to the failure of creating new stars as pointed out by Daniel Bryan in an interview with The National.

Cena is set to return after Christmas during the live event show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Dec. 26. He also admitted that he watches Monday Night Raw regularly since his hiatus and he can't wait to get back to face the superstars who have stepped up in his absence.

"It kills me to be healthy and watch Raw. But at the same time, if we don't have a future I don't have any accomplishments," Cena said.

"American Grit" is a 10-episode reality competition that will have 16 of the country's toughest men and women divided into four teams to face a number of military-grade and survival-themed challenges produced by FOX and Leftfield Pictures, per WWE.com.

The WWE superstar host is joined by a group of mentors from the U.S.' elite military units that will push the contestants to their limits. These mentors include Rorke Denver, Noah Galloway, Tawanda Hanible and Nick Irving, and will be known as "The Cadre."

The teams will have to finish the obstacle course called "The Circus" at the end of every episode which is the ultimate test of strength, stamina, will-power and teamwork for a chance to win $1 million. "American Grit" is scheduled to premiere on FOX in 2016.