John Cena: The Retirement Tour Was The Cycle Of Someone Facing The End Of Their Life. The Audience Didn’t Necessarily Get That

At WWE Money in the Bank 2024, John Cena announced that 2025 would be his final year in wrestling and that he would retire in December.

Cena’s final year featured ups and downs as he didn’t win the WWE Royal Rumble, turned heel at WWE Elimination Chamber, won the Undisputed WWE Championship for a record 17th time at WrestleMania, turned back to babyface at WWE SummerSlam, and finished up his career on December 13th.

Speaking to Cody Rhodes on What Do You Want To Talk About? Cena reflected on the final year of his career.

“Knowing we’re in a good place and we’re going to be great going forward. ‘I gave everything, thank you for everything.’ In that one moment, that was going peacefully. The whole tour was the cycle of someone facing the end of their life. The struggles they go with. I got a raw deal. I want this one more time. This will make me happy and live forever. Then, realizing I’m a prick and went against my values. Having a good person, someone you know and love, be like, ‘This isn’t you. Let’s do it the right way,’ which connects to our why and helps us tell a story and have a conversation with the audience. Then, moments with colleagues that I have history with. Tributes to everyone I’ve shared the canvas with, or as many people as I could squeeze into one match before we have to take it home. New competitors, so you can pass on the wisdom and knowledge. The deal in San Diego where we ran everybody who bought a ticket to the ring and could get as many people around the element of, ‘I only have a few more matches left to call, can we run 27 people down so they can hear the noise?’ To be honored to be in there as somebody who takes the mat as sacred. I don’t care who likes or doesn’t like Gunther. I respect his core value. He’s pure and is all about this 20 x 20 box. Whether he does it my way, a wise man once said, ‘Just because it’s the way John does it doesn’t mean it’s the way it needs to be done.’ I got the utmost respect for him. That’s what the artist was thinking when painting the picture. The audience didn’t necessarily get that, and nine times out of ten, they don’t need to get it, but if you go in with no story and nothing (in your head and heart), you just do a fucking stunt show,” said Cena.

Elsewhere during the interview, John Cena explained why he smiled when he tapped out to Gunther in his final match. You can find his full comments here.

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.