John Cena Announces Retirement from Professional Wrestling
By Movieguide® Contributor
Having been in the ring for over two decades, John Cena announced he will be saying goodbye to the WWE and professional wrestling at the end of 2025.
“The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last,” Cena announced from the ring. “The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last. And I’m here tonight to announce that in Las Vegas, WrestleMania 2025 will be the last I compete in.”
“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” he continued. “Thank you so much always for you voice because it’s really loud, and your honesty because it’s beautifully brutal.”
“WWE is filled with stories. It’s constantly a program of stories ending and new stories beginning,” Cena added at a later press conference. “I’ve never been too concerned with the word ‘legacy,’ and I don’t want you to mix messages here: It doesn’t mean I shortchange any second on the canvas. I wish I could do it infinitely. Now I want to just try to do something special for a globe of people I owe everything to.”
Cena explained that he felt he was at the end of his ability physically, however, he still believes he is at the top of his game and challenged any WWE superstars who want to fight him to let him know, because time is running out. Cena also believes he is leaving the sport at a time when it is more popular than ever, giving him confidence that it will only continue to thrive after his departure.
“The business is at incredible heights of popularity and awareness,” he said. “There are some big things going on, especially the Netflix debut [happening in January 2025] and I take pride in being an individual WWE can call up and say, ‘Remember that idea? The time is now.’ Let’s do something that can bring all of us together.”
Though his time in the ring is coming to a close, Cena’s partnership with the WWE will continue as he plans on staying with the organization for off-the-canvas work.
“I’ve always said to the audience that WWE is my home and I love it,” Cena said. “Just because I physically feel I’m at my end, doesn’t mean I need to distance myself from something I love.”
Retiring from the WWE will also provide Cena with more time to pursue his acting career which already holds impressive accolades such as THE FAST & FURIOUS franchise, SUICIDE SQUAD and BARBIE.
Cena will also have more time to dive into charity work, something he is extremely passionate about. The wrestler holds the record for the greatest number of children met through Make-A-Wish, with over 600 kid’s dreams coming true thanks to him.
Movieguide® previously reported:
John Cena can add a new title to his list of accolades: the WWE star and actor was just named the Guinness World Record holder for the most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Cena made wishes come true for 650 children. He started working with the foundation in 2002, and has been the leading wish-granter for years. Make-A-Wish stated that no other person has granted more than 200 wishes in their 42 year-history.
Make-A-Wish also shared that Cena is the most requested celebrity.
“If you ever need me for this ever, I don’t care what I’m doing, I will drop what I’m doing and be involved because I think that’s the coolest thing,” Cena said of his long partnership with Make-A-Wish. “I just drop everything.”
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