John Cena’s WWE Career Nears Its End
John Cena’s time in the WWE ring is winding down. Many consider him among the greatest wrestlers to land in the company. Over the years, he’s amassed an impressive collection of 17 titles, with his latest victory coming at WrestleMania 41. His farewell match is set for the Saturday Night’s main event against Gunther, who has rightfully earned this opportunity to face him.
In a recent interview with Tom Rinaldi, Cena reflected on his career and the criticisms he’s endured over the years. He shared that one of the most memorable chants he encountered was “I can’t wrestle,” which kind of stuck with him.
Cena recounted, “The ‘no wrestling’ chants happened because I relied on the same five moves. Fans saw other talent displaying incredible skills, while they were witnessing me repeat my limited moveset. But, you know, I was constructing a legacy through my story. If I wasn’t their favorite, then I suppose that’s the nature of dynasties.” He acknowledged this feedback but said it motivated him to improve.
Instead of reacting defensively to those chants, Cena used them as fuel. “Hearing that made me want to expand what I could do. I even returned to wrestling school during my career because I wanted to evolve. I asked newer performers for their insights—like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, and even CM Punk—what should I focus on? Their responses, combined with the crowd’s reactions, pushed me to grow.” He mentioned that he often would hear the crowd shout, “You can’t do that,” which only made him want to prove them wrong.
Cena’s illustrious career, which has spanned 25 years and featured multiple championship wins, kicked off his retirement tour with a significant appearance at the Royal Rumble, where he was the runner-up. He later triumphed in the Elimination Chamber match and faced Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. In a surprising twist, he even turned heel, reminiscent of Hulk Hogan’s iconic shifts; however, this change lasted a few months before he returned to his beloved babyface persona, much to the delight of his fans.
As Cena’s final days in the ring approach, he continues to reflect on his journey and aspirations for the future. His mission has always been to keep evolving while staying true to himself.
