John Cena has announced that he will retire from professional wrestling next year, marking the end of his two-decade-long career in the ring.
During a heartfelt speech on Saturday night in Toronto, Cena addressed a stadium full of World Wrestling Entertainment fans, who expressed their disappointment with boos as he revealed that the 2025 season would be his last. Cena promised a farewell tour with numerous dates and an epic final fight, reassuring fans that he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career.
“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena told the crowd.
In a news conference following the event, Cena explained to reporters that he feels physically “at my end,” but emphasized that he does not intend to distance himself from the sport he loves.
Cena, a 16-time WWE champion, first gained fame in the early 2000s as the fan-favorite “Doctor of Thuganomics,” a rapper character known for his gold chains and backward hat, who challenged his wrestling opponents to rap battles. Over the years, he has portrayed several popular characters, both in the ring and on the big screen.
Cena has starred in films such as Blockers and The Suicide Squad. He has also made multiple appearances in the Fast & Furious franchise and was recently seen in the comedy thriller Argylle and the box office hit Barbie. Additionally, he had a guest-starring role in the third season of FX’s The Bear and is hosting Discovery’s Shark Week 2024 programming.
