John Cena says his WWE retirement is about 'closing a chapter and opening another one'
John Cena has spent more than two decades as one of WWE's ultimate heroes after making his official debut in 2002. Now, as he prepares for his final WrestleMania in April, the man whose mantra is 'Never give up' is reflecting on his career, his unexpected 'heel turn' and what lies ahead.
The 47-year-old actor and WWE star made headlines in March when he aligned with his rival Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson and attacked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in the ring, marking his first heel turn — a moment when a fan-favorite 'good guy' embraces the role of a villain — in over 20 years.
For some fans who grew up idolizing Cena, his turn to the dark side hit hard. But he won't give much away if you ask him about it.
'My only reply to that is: I hope you enjoy watching the show that's coming up,' Cena said, referring to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, where he's challenging Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. A victory would secure Cena's record-breaking 17th world title, surpassing Ric Flair's record of 16 championships, a milestone Cena currently shares.
For Cena, this WrestleMania carries deeper significance, as it's the final act of a career that defined an entire era for WWE fans.
Cena first announced his plans to retire from wrestling in July 2024, delivering the news to fans at WWE's Money in the Bank event in Canada: 'Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,' he told the crowd.
Cena isn't walking away entirely, though.
'The word 'retirement,' to me, simply means acknowledging and accepting that you're closing a chapter and opening another one,' he explained, citing The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks as a book that helped reinforce his perspective on what comes next.
'This is a thing that a lot of folks go through, and it's a normal progression in life,' he said. 'It's closing a chapter, continuing to be curious and finding that second mountain to climb.'
Looking back on his career, Cena has no regrets.
'Any creative venture has to involve courage because you're essentially putting a piece of art out there and letting everyone have an opinion on it,' he said. 'You have to have the courage to give your best and also the courage to understand that once it's out in the universe, it is the subject of opinion.'
He added, 'If there's one thing I've learned over the years it is you can't please everyone.'
One way he's staying connected with fans is through WWE's SnackDown contest with Drumstick, which invites fans to showcase their best WWE-style 'Snack Talk' for a chance to win a trip to WrestleMania 41.
'As a 13-year-old, I loved having a Drumstick at the end of my lunch,' he said. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing what our fans do with this. It gives fans of WWE a chance to be superstars by 'talking snack,' as Drumstick would say.'
For young fans hoping to follow in his footsteps, his advice is simple: 'Be yourself.'
'There's never been a better time to be around sports entertainment than right now,' he said. 'The best version of yourself is good enough, and that will help you achieve whatever you want in life.'
With WrestleMania 41 approaching, Cena remains focused on the bigger picture. As for his legacy? That's not something he spends much time thinking about.
'I don't care much about that. I never have,' he said. 'We are here for such a short time. I just think you should make the most out of the time you have.'
When it comes to how he'll be remembered, Cena leaves that up to others.
'People's perception of me, my values and how I live my life — that will be theirs to own,' he added. 'As long as I look in the mirror and I'm fine with who I am, and think I did the best that I could, I just hope to use my time accordingly.'
Cena's final act in WWE is shaping up to be one of his most unforgettable. And while his influence on wrestling — and the millions of fans who have followed his journey — will be felt for years to come, he sees this as just another chapter.
'We're just getting warmed up,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Drew McIntyre Reveals Off Limits Topic During CM Punk Feud
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Drew McIntyre has revealed there was one topic he considered off-limits during his intensely personal and brutal 2024 feud with CM Punk: their families. The rivalry between McIntyre and Punk was often praised for blurring the lines between storyline and reality. However, in a recent interview with Gorilla Position, McIntyre explained that while he and Punk didn't agree to any rules beforehand, he has a personal boundary he will not cross. "I mean, I've got personal rules, and I imagine he has something similar, family is off-limits," McIntyre stated (H/T to WrestleTalk). He noted that acknowledging CM Punk's wife, AJ Lee, was acceptable because of her history in wrestling, but he would not go further. "I would never say anything negative about her, she's a lovely person, unlike him," McIntyre clarified. "But no, that's just something personal for me and I imagine for himself, the way we were brought up, kind of old school, was like 'okay, it's nothing to do with your family, leave them out of it.'" BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Drew McIntyre (R) connects with a punch against CM Punk during their strap match at the WWE Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event at Uber Arena on August 31, 2024... BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: Drew McIntyre (R) connects with a punch against CM Punk during their strap match at the WWE Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event at Uber Arena on August 31, 2024 in Berlin, news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation While family was off the table, McIntyre made it clear that anything else was fair game. "As far as the guys, just unload," he said. "Some people have got upset with the things I've said, I don't give a f--k. You're not that character, that's not really you, grow the f--k up." The feud between the two stars culminated in a bloody Hell in a Cell match at WWE Bad Blood in October 2024, which was won by began 2025 by reigniting his intense rivalry with Damian Priest. The feud started with an elimination at the Royal Rumble and continued through the Elimination Chamber. It culminated at WrestleMania 41, when McIntyre defeated Priest in a brutal Sin City Street Fight. Following WrestleMania, McIntyre was involved in a fatal four-way match for the United States Championship at Backlash, where he and Priest once again clashed. Their program finally concluded in a Steel Cage match at the Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24, with Priest emerging victorious. McIntyre has not appeared on WWE television since that definitive loss, taking time away from the company after a grueling first half of the year. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Released WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former WWE star Nixon Newell, previously known as Tegan Nox, recently expressed a strong desire to join All Elite Wrestling but revealed she does not believe the company is currently interested in signing her. After being released from her WWE contract in November 2024, Newell has been navigating free agency. During an interview on the Wrestling in the Middle podcast (H/T to she was direct about her interest in working for AEW. "I would love to go there. There's so many people there that I want to wrestle," Newell stated. She specifically mentioned wanting to renew her old rivalry with a top AEW star. "I really want to tangle with Toni Storm again. I wrestled Toni, yes, many years on the Indies. So I'd like to, you know, revisit that," she said. Despite her enthusiasm for potential dream matches, Newell was candid about her perception of AEW's interest in her as a free agent. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "So I am more than willing, AEW, to talk about some stuff," she said, before adding a dose of reality. "As far as I know, I don't think there's an interest from them, which is a shame. But I would love to go there." HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensNewell signed with WWE in 2017, having runs in both NXT UK and NXT before being called up to the main roster in July 2021 as Shotzi's tag team partner. Plagued by significant injuries early in her WWE tenure, her career never reached the heights many had predicted. Now a free agent, Newell says her main goal is to get back in the ring consistently and prove what she can do. She also named ROH and TNA as other promotions on her "bucket list." "I want to wrestle everywhere and anywhere at this point," she affirmed. "I gotta show people that I can do what I do best, and I just need the opportunity to be able to show people." Nox is a talented wrestler who huch to offer to other promotions. Hopefully, she can find work soon. WWE had her shelved on the main roster near the end of her tenure. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
WWE Confirms Return Of Top Superstar After Year-Long Absence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "The Empress of Tomorrow" is officially on her way back to a WWE ring. After being sidelined for over a year with a major knee injury, Asuka's return was announced during the June 9th episode of Monday Night RAW. She has been out of action since the Backlash France event in May 2024. It was there that she and Kairi Sane lost the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship to the team of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Following that European tour, Asuka confirmed the severity of her injury and the need for time off. She underwent knee surgery in June 2024 and has been in recovery ever since. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "After the Backlash of my European tour, I had to take a break to treat my knee that I had been hurting for a while," Asuka stated in a message to fans on her YouTube channel last year. "My partners Kairi and Dakota helped me a lot during this tour as I could not move at my best. I am very grateful to both of them." LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More Now, her return is set for the June 16th edition of RAW. She will be thrown directly into high-stakes competition as part of the 2025 Queen of the Ring tournament. A video package that aired during RAW confirmed her entry. Asuka is scheduled to compete in a fatal four-way first-round match against Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile, and Raquel Rodriguez. A multi-time former world champion and tag team champion, Asuka is one of the most decorated women in WWE history. She famously held a long, undefeated streak that was eventually ended by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. Her return adds significant star power to a stacked Queen of the Ring field. It also gives a boost to the women's division as WWE builds towards its second all-women's premium live event, Evolution, which is scheduled for July. Asuka is someone who has a lot of experience and knowledge that she can pass down to the younger stars WWE has. Whether it's in the ring or behind the scenes, Asuka is a well-respected name in that locker room. It will be a good thing for WWE to have her back in action. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
