John Cena has set a definitive timeline for the end of his in-ring career, confirming his final match will occur in mid-December 2025. The announcement came during his appearance at the New York premiere for his movie, Heads of State, where he addressed the progress of his ongoing farewell tour.
The current Undisputed WWE Champion, who began his final run on the January 6th debut of WWE RAW on Netflix, offered specific details on his retirement plan.
“I’m 48. My last match will be in mid-December,” Cena stated. “We are still trying to find out a place to do it but, I said 36 dates in January. We are halfway through, and gosh, it’s been a lot of compelling TV. I don’t want to spoil it for anybody but I think we are just getting started.”
Cena’s farewell tour began after he captured the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes. Since then, his reign has included a successful title defense against Randy Orton at Backlash. The entire tour is built around his stated intention to retire as the “last real champion.”
A Contentious Road to Retirement
Before reaching his final match in December, Cena must navigate a highly personal and volatile rivalry with CM Punk. The two are scheduled to face off for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28. This marks their first televised singles match in over a decade.
The feud has been characterized by a sharp reversal of their famous 2011 roles. Cena has adopted an antagonistic stance, claiming he wants to “ruin wrestling” by retiring with the title. He has also mocked Punk’s iconic “pipebomb” promo from years past.
The storyline has also incorporated real-world controversy, with Cena labeling Punk a hypocrite for competing in a Saudi Arabian event after previously criticizing WWE’s partnership with the country. This upcoming title defense is presented as a significant obstacle in Cena’s final run, with the outcome poised to shape the last six months of his storied career.