Although John Cena has openly teased WWE fans with retirement on a couple of occasions in the past, this time it’s for real, but what are the odds of him actually retiring at the end of 2025, and what does it mean for WWE if he does go into permanent retirement?
Let’s dive straight in to find out some of the reasons for his decision to bow out after more than two decades, and discuss the wider impact of a future WWE that no longer features one of its most famous faces.
Is John Cena retiring from WWE?
The answer to this question isn’t as simple as it may seem. According to numerous sources, and Jon Cena himself, he is not completely retiring from the WWE. Instead, by the end of 2025, he will be retiring from full-time in-ring competition.
News about his upcoming retirement first came to light back in July 2024, during the Money in the Bank event, when he stated that 2025 would be his farewell tour, which would include appearances at major WWE events, such as:
- WrestleMania
- The Elimination Chamber
- The Royal Rumble
When explaining his decision to retire, he stated that he doesn’t want to compromise his relationships or personal life, or the quality of performances, because of his ailing physical condition that has already caused his skills in the ring to decline somewhat, which he also thinks will negatively impact the experience for his loyal following.
However, the WWE icon does intend to remain involved with WWE in various other roles, such as becoming a mentor so he can share his experience and what he referred to as his ‘wisdom’ with others.
John Cena has already opened up about his skin cancer diagnoses that he has received on two separate occasions, the first of which was a spot on his chest, and the second was a similar spot somewhere else on his skin.
According to the 48-year-old and 17-time WWE world champion, he overlooked the importance of wearing protective sunscreen, and is now an advocate who raises awareness to highlight the importance of sunscreen in the prevention of skin cancer.
His retirement from the ring will be permanent, and there are no plans for him to return after December 2025.
Is the WWE Ready for Cena to Retire?
John Cena has left his mark on the WWE, and his upcoming full-time retirement from the ring will no doubt leave a significant void.
Although it’s impossible to say whether WWE is ‘ready’ for his exit, it is inevitable, and he is already approaching an age where stepping in the ring becomes a risk to his body, so the decision to retire won’t have come as too much of a surprise for organisers or fans.
Various people will feel his absence for a brief time, but WWE is used to losing big stars like this, and they are well equipped to make his exit as smooth as possible. They have a long history of successfully transitioning stars and should be able to navigate his retirement with their deep roster of new talent.
Final thoughts
John Cena’s WWE retirement will no doubt impact ticket sales and viewership, and it will be hard to find someone who can replace him or fill his role, so we will just have to wait and see how WWE’s chiefs react and move forward.
