John Cena, the celebrated WWE superstar and 16-time world champion, made a significant announcement regarding his retirement from professional wrestling at the Money in the Bank event held last Saturday.
In a poignant moment at the Scotiabank Arena, the 47-year-old icon, recognized for his coined phrase "you can’t see me" and his successful forays into Hollywood, spoke to the crowd wearing a crimson shirt bearing the words "The last time is now," complemented by a matching red hat.
Cena took the opportunity to reflect on his illustrious career spanning over two decades with WWE and expressed his profound gratitude towards the organization. "Why am I here? Tonight I officially announce my retirement from the WWE," Cena proclaimed during the event. "I’ve been doing this a while. I’ve been in WWE for over two decades, and in that time, I’ve seen incredible waves of prosperity like we got right now. WWE is the hottest ticket in town, no doubt," he added.
The wrestling legend disclosed that his retirement would be marked by a farewell tour that includes appearances at events such as the Royal Rumble, the Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania in Las Vegas next year. Cena invited his peers to maximize his remaining time in the wrestling ring, stating, "This farewell does not end tonight. It is filled with opportunity. Everybody, 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."
Detailing his future plans, Cena emphasized, "The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last. The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last, and I’m here tonight to announce that WrestleMania Las Vegas in 2025 will be the last WrestleMania I compete in." To address any queries surrounding his retirement, Cena expressed his intention to initiate a press conference right after the event to field questions from the media.
Conveying his deep appreciation to the fans, Cena concluded his announcement saying, "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 here with you tonight to let the world know we are planning something unforgettable which also involves me returning to Toronto to kick some a**."