2024 was a blockbuster year for WWE, full of unforgettable moments. The highlight was undoubtedly the electrifying return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the ring, which left fans buzzing with excitement. On the other hand, John Cena, another WWE icon, surprised WWE Money in the Bank by announcing his retirement.
To add a bittersweet twist to the whole thing, he later told Jimmy Kimmel that he would not pull “The Rock move” and make a surprise comeback. Fans were left with a mixture of admiration and a touch of sadness, knowing that Cena will not be stepping back into the ring anytime soon.
John Cena makes it clear: No return after retirement like The Rock!
John Cena has officially announced his retirement (via WWE), but he is not retiring yet. Instead, he is giving fans one last chance with their childhood hero. Cena, who is currently 47 years old, has revealed that 2025 will be his last year in the ring, with Elimination Chamber 2025, Royal Rumble 2025, and WrestleMania 41 being his last major events in WWE.
At a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel LiveCena reflected on his WWE career. He made one thing pretty clear: He acknowledged that while some wrestlers may return after retirement, as The Rock recently did, he stands firm in his decision to retire completely. He said of his retirement:
I’m fortunate that in WWE, the retirement speech is usually part of the story where they say, “I’m going to retire,” and then attack the person who comes out to console. My speech is not part of a show, and sometimes stars are physically unable to compete, and I’m healthy.
He added:
I know retirements in wrestling are sometimes unpredictable, they happen, and then people call it quits. I’m 100% done. December 2025 will be my last in-ring appearance. I’ll continue to be part of the WWE family as an ambassador, but it’s time to close the physical performance chapter in my life and I’ve made peace with that. So 2025 is going to be great. It’s going to be fun, not sad. But this is it: I’m retiring.
Cena seems genuinely hopeful and excited to finish his in-ring career in style and glory, closing a chapter that has given him so much. He is full of gratitude for the journey, and fans are also eagerly awaiting the chance to see him in the ring one last time next year.
John Cena promises one last epic year before his WWE retirement!
While it is undoubtedly bittersweet to hear the retirement announcement of a beloved idol, Cena’s recent declaration that he will never return to the ring has been particularly disheartening to fans who grew up watching this champion in action.
To look at it positively: It is not all doom and gloom. Although he will retire from his in-ring appearances, he will continue to be part of the WWE family as an ambassador. As Cena said in his interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, there is still a lot to look forward to.
I will be a member of the WWE family as an ambassador, and a grateful one at that. But you’ll see me wearing this (points to fit), not the wristbands, the jorts, the baseball cap. That will be gone in December 2025, and that’s why we’re putting so much meaning and so much value on this farewell tour.
This is what the fans say:
John Cena says he will be seen performing for the last time in December 2025
He will never come out of retirement to perform in the ring again. pic.twitter.com/8vBernJPEz
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) 14 August 2024
I still can’t believe John Cena is actually retiring 💔💔💔 https://t.co/V9ViNyRDoZ pic.twitter.com/7ryE5LvY2V
— QUAN☝🏽🎱🕷️ (@HeelQuan) 13 August 2024
Happy retirement, John Cena! Commitment, loyalty and respect. We greet you
– Shayla (26 days until my birthday) September 3 (@kamisha8906) 14 August 2024
I love that he means it when he says he will never step back into the ring after this. John Cena has integrity.
— Oroku Saki (@Tony_Omega) 14 August 2024
We have one year left, let’s hope it’s his best
— Hbartz, the Ella Purnell fan (@hbartz25) 14 August 2024
SMH that sucks, ruined my night. John Cena is the only reason I watch wrestling, without him I wouldn’t have been interested or a fan of him. @WWE
— JLW (@JLWprime1) 14 August 2024
Although it is a bittersweet moment, fans are eagerly awaiting the surprises John Cena will deliver in 2025. It is guaranteed to be epic. Fans can’t wait!
