As he readied to introduce the award for best costume design, host Jimmy Kimmel noted it had been 50 years since David Niven was interrupted on the Oscars stage by a streaker.

"Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today?" Kimmel asked three times before a sheepish-looking John Cena popped his head over the set.

Kimmel cajoled the apparently reluctant former wrestler to go on with the skit and walk out unclothed.

Eventually, the impressively toned Cena shuffled out wearing only sandals and shielding himself with the winner's envelope, bringing the house down as he shuffled to center stage.

And for those who are wondering: he really was nearly naked, with just a modesty pouch to cover the essential bits. He was cloaked in what looked like a stage curtain to get offstage.