Professional wrestling icon John Cena has revealed his plans to retire from in-ring competition with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2025. The 16-time world champion made the surprise announcement during a recent appearance at WWE’s Money in the Bank event in Toronto, setting the stage for what promises to be an emotional farewell tour.
John Cena, who has been a prominent figure of WWE for nearly two decades, outlined his retirement timeline to a roaring crowd. He confirmed that the 2025 Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber events would mark his final appearances at those specific shows. The culmination of his in-ring career will take place at WrestleMania 41, scheduled for April 19-20, 2025, in Las Vegas.
“In Las Vegas, WrestleMania 2025 will be the last WrestleMania I compete in,” Cena declared to the audience, prompting chants of “Thank you, Cena!”
However, fans can expect to see plenty of the Massachusetts native before his final bow. In a post-show press conference, Cena elaborated on his plans for 2025, promising between 30 to 40 appearances throughout the year. He emphasized that his involvement would extend beyond WrestleMania, potentially continuing through December.
“We’re going to try to do a long list of dates,” Cena stated, indicating his desire to give fans ample opportunities to see him perform one last time.
While 2025 will mark the end of Cena’s in-ring career, he expressed his intention to remain part of the WWE family in a non-physical capacity. He plans to transition into a role as a fan and advocate for the company, ruling out any future involvement in matches or physical altercations.
John Cena also touched on WWE’s landmark deal with Netflix, which will see Raw moving to the streaming platform in 2024. He confirmed his participation in this shift, stating,
“I’ve never been a part of Raw on Netflix. That is history, that is a first, and I will be there.”
As he prepares for his final run, Cena issued a playful warning to the WWE roster: “If you’re a WWE superstar, if you want some, hurry up and come get some.”