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 told Yahoo Entertainment, 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.

Farewell to the ring

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.