In an unexpected appearance on Saturday, July 6, at the WWE’s Money in the Bank event, the 47-year-old former wrestling champion declared that he would be leaving the sport in 2025.
“I officially announce my retirement from the WWE tonight,” Cena declared to the crowd at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
“The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last. 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.”
When Cena made his declaration, the crowd booed loudly. “You realize that’s a lot to process, don’t you? There are probably a lot of questions out there,” he remarked before giving WWE fans an emotional speech.
After Cena said, “I want to say thank you,” the crowd sent out a spontaneous “Thank you, Cena” chant that echoed around the arena.
After thanking Canadian fans of the WWE for “always” supporting the sport, the wrestler-turned-actor talked about the “tremendous hardship” and “prosperity” he’s witnessed in his two decades in the business.
“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena replied. “Thank you so much for your voice because it’s really loud, and your honesty, because it’s beautifully brutal.”
Following the performance, Cena gave reporters further details about his 2025 retirement intentions when he addressed them at a press conference. He stated that before retiring from wrestling at the end of the following year, he will take part in about 30 to 40 more dates from January through December.
After that, Cena made it clear that he had no plans to step back into the ring.
He said, “People say they’re walking away, and two years later they come back.” “I want to set the record straight right now. I’m done. This is it.”
According to Cena, the WWE will make its Netflix debut in January 2025, and the wrestling industry is “at incredible heights of popularity and awareness.”
“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,” he said.
With 16 championships to his credit, Cena started his WWE career in 2001. Since becoming well-known as a wrestler, he has developed his career in Hollywood, appearing in films like as Barbie and Suicide Squad.
“I know my WWE journey is coming to an end, but fitness was a part of my life long before the WWE journey started,” he continued.
“Fitness will be a part of my life, hopefully as long as my heart’s beating. So the WWE has been a great chapter in my life — it’s year 23 for me — and the sun’s setting on that chapter in the book, but fitness will never not be a part of my life.”