American actor and wrestler John Cena has officially announced his retirement from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events.
Cena made the announcement in front of a sold-out, enthusiastic crowd at the Money in the Bank event in Toronto, Canada, and said his final match would be in 2025.
He told the crowd that he’s seen “incredible waves of success” and “tremendous hardship” in the WWE since joining the company more than 20 years ago.
The 47-year-old joined WWE in 2001 and has been a world champion 16 times, and is considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the organization’s history.
Cena has hinted that an appearance at WrestleMania in 2025 could be the culmination of his WWE career.
BREAKING: John Cena #MITB He plans to retire from in-ring competition in 2025.#ThankyouSena pic.twitter.com/6TPnYI5iU2
— WWE (@WWE) July 7, 2024
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Cena, wearing a T-shirt that read “This Is The Last” and “John Cena Farewell Tour,” made the announcement, and the Toronto crowd chanted “Thank you, Cena.” Cena called it an “incredible act of kindness” and thanked the Toronto crowd for “allowing me to play in the house you built.”
After leaving WWE, Cena made his acting debut in The Marine in 2006. He has since appeared in numerous films, including Trainwreck (2015), Suicide Squad (2021) and Fast & Furious 7 (2021), as well as appearing in the DC superhero TV series The Peacemaker.
This year, Cena starred in the comedy film “Ricky Stanicki” alongside Zac Efron and Australian journalist and author Stan Grant.
Cena has been working part-time for WWE since 2018 as his career has expanded.
He also holds the Guinness World Record for granting the most Make-A-Wish wishes for seriously ill children. He will grant his 650th wish on July 19, 2022, and often wears his championship belt on such occasions. According to Guinness World Records, he is the celebrity who has had the most wishes granted since his first wish was granted in 2002.
