John Cena has offered a candid assessment of his in-ring capabilities, directly addressing his decision to conclude his storied career in 2025. Speaking on The Breakfast Club, the 17-time champion explained that he recognizes a decline in his performance.
“I can barely hang on right now,” Cena said. “Like, I have certainly lost a step. And I promised myself, and I made open, accountable promises to the fanbase, that when I get a step slower, I am stepping out the door. So I can hang on for another five, maybe seven years, and just slowly, crustily saunter on out there and do my stuff. Or I can…the business has been great to me. I’ve been in it for 25 years. I’ve got 18 more dates left this year, my last match will be in December. And that’s going to be the door shutting on me.”
His admission comes just days after a physically demanding main event at Night of Champions, where he retained his Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk. The match’s chaotic conclusion saw Cena physically intercept referee Charles Robinson to prevent a Money in the Bank cash-in attempt by Seth Rollins, an action that underscores the physicality of his current run.
Cena hopes his decision to step away while still performing at a high level can serve as a guidepost for others. He framed his retirement not just as a personal choice, but as a potential standard for future generations.
“Hopefully I can maybe set a precedent of ‘Hey, maybe it’s okay to say you had a wonderful time, but it’s really time to go. Cause the older you get, it’s really…I just want to be in a good partner to my wife. I want to be able to walk upright. I want my health into my final chapters of life. And the way I can do that or the way I can hedge that sure is not fall down a lot, post 45,” Cena stated.
The farewell tour has fifteen announced dates remaining. His next scheduled appearance is for the July 18 episode of Friday Night SmackDown in San Antonio, Texas, which will build toward his expected championship defense against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. The tour also includes international stops for events like Clash in Paris and Crown Jewel in Australia.