John Cena, the iconic wrestler-turned-actor, announced on Saturday night that he will retire from professional wrestling next year, marking the end of his two-decade career in the ring.
Addressing a stadium full of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fans in Toronto, Cena delivered an emotional speech, during which the crowd expressed their disappointment with boos as he revealed that the 2025 season would be his last. Cena promised a farewell tour featuring numerous dates and an epic final match, while assuring fans that he would continue to be involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career.
“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena said to the audience.
During a subsequent news conference, Cena explained to reporters that he feels physically “at my end,” but emphasized that he doesn’t plan to distance himself from the sport he loves.
Cena, a 16-time WWE champion, first made his mark in the early 2000s as the “Doctor of Thuganomics,” a rapper persona complete with gold chains and a backwards hat who challenged his opponents to rap battles. He later portrayed various other popular characters, both in wrestling and in his acting career.
In addition to his wrestling achievements, Cena has starred in films such as “Blockers” and “The Suicide Squad,” made multiple appearances in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, and appeared most recently in the comedy thriller “Argylle” and the box office hit “Barbie.”
