John Cena Announces WWE Retirement After WrestleMania 2025

After an illustrious 23-year career, wrestling icon John Cena is gearing up for his final match in the WWE. The 16-time world champion made a surprise announcement during Saturday’s Money in the Bank event in Toronto, Canada, revealing that he will retire from WWE following WrestleMania 2025.

Known for his mantra “never give up,” Cena broke tradition by unveiling a new towel emblazoned with “The last time is now.” Addressing the shocked audience, Cena stated, “Why am I here? Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” eliciting gasps from the crowd.

Cena’s farewell won’t be immediate, as he plans to continue participating in WWE events leading up to his final match. He also revealed his involvement with Monday Night Raw as it transitions to Netflix in January 2025. “This farewell, it does not end tonight,” Cena said. “It is filled with opportunity. Raw makes history next year when it moves to Netflix. I’ve never been a part of Raw on Netflix, that is history. That is a first, and I will be there.”

Cena outlined his final appearances, stating that the 2025 Royal Rumble and the 2025 Elimination Chamber will be his last for those events. The climax of his farewell tour will be at WrestleMania 2025 in Las Vegas, marking his final appearance in the WWE ring.

Despite initial boos from the audience, the crowd soon shifted to chanting “thank you Cena,” to which he expressed his gratitude. “Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena responded. “Thank you so much always for your voice, because it’s really loud, and your honesty, because it’s beautifully brutal. And most of all, thank you so much for allowing me to be with you here tonight to let the whole world know that we are planning something unforgettable, which also involves me returning to Toronto to kick some ass!”

Cena, who signed with WWE in 2001, has transitioned to part-time wrestling since 2018 as he expanded his acting career. He has starred in films such as Daddy’s Home (2015), Blockers (2018), The Suicide Squad (2021), and his HBO Max series spin-off Peacemaker.

As Cena prepares to hang up his wrestling boots, fans can look forward to his final, unforgettable matches leading up to WrestleMania 2025, celebrating the career of one of WWE’s greatest superstars.