John Cena made a surprise return at the 2024 WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view event to announce his forthcoming retirement from pro wrestling in 2025.
Cena declared that he plans to wrestle 30-40 matches next year as part of his farewell tour.
In a recent interview with Extra, Cena discussed finishing his WWE in-ring career next year and why he believes it won’t be bittersweet. He said,
“It’s going to be fun. Not bittersweet for me, it’s going to be fun. I’m so grateful that I’m in a position where I still have my health and I’m able to carve out a large section of time and perform for a year, from January to December, and give everyone a heads up. A lot of times in WWE, sometimes injuries force retirement all of a sudden. One day you’re there, the next day you’re gone, or sometimes you say you’re going to retire and it’s part of the bit. You attack somebody and get a shot at the championship. This is my way, for an audience that has made me who I am, after 23 years of investment, to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to give you six months, that’s your warning. In January, we’re going on tour and in December, I’m hanging them up. Let’s all get together at various spots around the world the next calendar year and get loud and rowdy one more time.’”
While Cena confirmed that the Royal Rumble 2025, Elimination Chamber 2025, and WrestleMania 41 will mark some of his final appearances, it’s important to note that his final match will not be at WrestleMania 41, as he intends to continue wrestling beyond that event.
