Cena has won 16 WWE Championships – the joint-most – in his 22-year career
He most recently wrestled in November 2023, facing Solo Sikoa in a losing effort
Cena made appearance at London’s Money In The Bank and called for a ‘Mania
John Cena has admitted that he is likely to retire from WWE when he turns 50.
The 16-time WWE champion has been with the company since 2002, debuting in a match against Kurt Angle before going onto have what has been a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
These days, his appearances in the company are sporadic as he balances his wrestling career with acting in Hollywood. Recently he was in England to promote his new film, Argylle.
Most recently, Cena spent a few months in WWE late last year amid the Hollywood actors strike, and was involved in a storyline where it was unclear if he still had what it takes to compete at the top level and culminated in losing to Solo Sikoa.
During his tour of England, Cena explained on The One Show that he wants to give his best at all times and be able to perform for the fans, and admitted that he’s not sure he can do that for much longer.
John Cena currently 46 years-old, has admitted that he expects to retire from wrestling when he is 50
Cena has been doing a media tour of the United Kingdom to promote his latest film, Argylle
Cena told The One Show that he wants to be able to continue to deliver for the WWE fans
‘I made a promise to the consumer early on, to WWE fans, because I know how tough it is to be a fan,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to come out of pocket, and WWE has a ton of content. It takes a lot to be a passionate fan and our fanbase is passionate and global.
‘I never wanted to go out there just for the sake of going out there. And I’m going to be 47 this year. I feel great. So inside I feel great, but I know what it takes to be a WWE performer night in and night out and I don’t ever want to just go out there and do it to do it.
‘I want to have the passion, the same passion as the fanbase, and I wanna give them exactly what they give me. The miles on the speedometer say, “Hey, that’s got to be done before 50”. That’s he timeline I’ve put on myself.’
Cena needs just one more world title to surpass Ric Flair as the man to have held the most WWE Championships outright, with fans calling for him to do so as one of the most notorious stars of all time.
He also doubled down on his ambition to bring a WrestleMania, which has never taken place in England, to London
Cena revealed his original plan mid-last year during a surprise appearance at Money In The Bank at the O2 Arena
Cena, meanwhile, doubled down on his wish to take a WrestleMania to London that he revealed at Money In The Bank in the county last year, again giving his praise to fans from England.
‘I never try to pick my opponents because that’s way above my pay grade, but I’ve been an active advocate for London to be a host of WrestleMania,’ he said.
‘A lot of people think when I go out to the ring and say that it was just for the local moment, to make the show happy. Fans in the UK are the best. Fans in London specifically they will let you know how how they feel.
‘I don’t think I’d be able to choose my opponent, but, if I could choose a venue, it would be the O2 in London.’