John Cena FILE PHOTO: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena fight during Night Two at Lincoln Financial Field on April 07, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
John Cena has been more movie and television star than a wrestling star in the past few years. Next year he is making it official. Cena announced on Sunday that he will be retiring from the ring in 2025.
He made an appearance during the “Monday in the Bank” event in Toronto, saying that the “Royal Rumble,” “Elimination Chamber and “Wrestle Mania” will be his last shows, The Athletic reported.
He told the crowd “Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Overall he plans to have about 30 to 40 bouts during all of 2025.
“I approached the WWE with this idea, and they initiated the talks that this would be a great span of time if we were ever going to do it,” Cena said, according to The Athletic. “The business is at incredible heights of popularity and awareness. There are some big things going on, especially the Netflix debut (in January 2025), and 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. They’ll write the stories, and we’ll execute the best we can.”
Cena made his first WWE appearance in 2000 and has been part of the company since 2001. The 47-year-old entertainer has 16 world WWE championships, tied with Ric Flair.
The announcement shouldn’t be a surprise for fans as he had said he didn’t want to wrestle past the age of 50, and despite several wrestlers retiring and coming back, he said he will not be in wrestling shape after he’s done, and won’t appear as a guest referee.
Cena has made an acting name for himself in “The Suicide Squad,” “Bumblebee” and “Peacemaker.” He has six upcoming projects, according to IMDB. He is also hosting Discovery’s “Shark Week” this year.
John Cena through the years John Cena, a voice actor in the upcoming animated film "Ferdinand," discusses the film during the 20th Century Fox presentation at CinemaCon 2017 at Caesars Palace on Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years This Dec. 9, 2018 photo shows WWE star-turned-actor John Cena posing for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel to promote his film "Bumblebee" in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP) (Rebecca Cabage/Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years FILE - In this March 30, 2011 file photo, WWE star John Cena participates in a Wrestlemania XXVII news conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square in New York. The death of Trayvon Martin has led to a debate about whether wearing a hooded sweatshirt presents a negative image. Cena says he was bullied as a kid because he loved rap and wore hip-hop clothing in a town where it wasn't popular. That's when he started lifting weights to protect himself. Cena is headlining against Duane "The Rock" Johnson at Wrestlemania on Sunday, April 1, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file) (Evan Agostini/AP)
John Cena through the years John Cena, a voice actor in the upcoming film "Ferdinand," arrives onstage for the 20th Century Fox presentation at CinemaCon 2017 at Caesars Palace on Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years FILE - In a Wednesday, July 13, 2016 file photo, host John Cena speaks at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater, in Los Angeles. Cena and Victoria Justice are hosting the Teen Choice Awards, live on Fox beginning 8 p.m. EDT Sunday, July 31, 2016, from the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) (Chris Pizzello/AP)
John Cena through the years WWE 2K15 cover Superstar John Cena (right) meets with Sting backstage at the SummerSlam Confidential Panel on at Club Nokia, on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision for 2K/AP Images) (Todd Williamson/Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years FILE- In this Sunday, April 6, 2014 file photo, John Cena celebrates his win during Wrestlemania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans. World-famous WWE wrestlers such as John Cena, Shaemus and champion Randy Orton are in Saudi Arabia for three days of matches in the capital Riyadh. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE, File) (Jonathan Bachman/AP)
John Cena through the years WWE 2K15 cover Superstar John Cena attends the WWE 2K15 SummerSlam Confidential Panel at Club Nokia, on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision for 2K/AP Images) (Todd Williamson/Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years John Cena, a cast member in "The Suicide Squad," poses in costume at the premiere of the film at the Regency Village Theatre, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years FILE - In this March 11, 2017 file photo, John Cena hosts the Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles. Cena will return as host for the 2018 Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years Host John Cena dances at the Kids' Choice Awards at The Forum on Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years Host John Cena gets slimed onstage at the Kids' Choice Awards at The Forum on Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years Host John Cena reacts to getting slimed at the Kids' Choice Awards at the Galen Center on Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years John Cena, a cast member in the upcoming film "The Wall," discusses the film during the Amazon Studios presentation at CinemaCon 2017 at Caesars Palace on Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years Actor John Cena poses on the 86th floor observation deck at the Empire State Building in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years Host John Cena competes in a dance battle at the Kids' Choice Awards at the Galen Center on Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Cena through the years John Cena, left, and Nikki Bella arrive at the Teen Choice Awards at the Forum on Sunday, July 31, 2016, in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)