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Actor and professional wrestler John Cena recently spoke about his plans to retire from the WWE ring after over twenty years. TheHidden Strikestar began his professional career in the WWE and reigned as the record 16-time world champion. He was known for his signature good-guy character in the show and then slowly transitioned to an acting career.
Cena starred in a number of projects in 2023, including a cameo in the filmBarbie. He had prominent roles in films such asFast XandTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. He also starred in the action filmsFreelanceandHidden Strike, the latter of which also starred Jackie Chan. The actor is now awaiting the release of Matthew Vaughn’sArgylle.
Also read:Real Reason John Cena Believes James Gunn Is DCU’s Vince McMahon
John Cena’s Wrestling Career In The WWE
Before he became a prominent actor with roles like the Peacemaker inThe Suicide Squad,John Cenawas known for his record-breaking stint on WWE. Starting his professional wrestling career in 1998, Cena began training and wrestling in local flea markets, assuming the character of ‘The Prototype’. He trailed at Ultimate Pro Wrestling and was the heavyweight champion for some time in 2000.
Cena made his unofficial debut as ‘The Prototype’ in WWE (then WWF) in 2000 and had his first match onSmackdown!against Mickey Richardson. He trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling, which was the WWF’s developmental territory and he had a contract with the federation. He made his official TV debut at WWE’sSmackdown!in 2002 and fought against Kurt Angle.
Also read:“I have a way in”: James Gunn Assures John Cena’s Peacemaker Season 2 Will Be Zack Snyder’s Last Remaining Blueprint Despite DCU Reboot
John Cena won his first world championship in 2005 at Wrestlemania 21, where he defeated John Bradshaw Layfield. Cena retained the championship in Wrestlemania 22, but lost it to Rob Van Dam in the ECW One Night Stand match. He regained the championship against Edge and went on to feud against multiple wrestlers over the years.
Cena slowly transitioned to an acting career and has only made a few appearances on WWE since 2017. He returned to the ring multiple times from then till date, making his most recent appearance in December 2023 where he reportedly addressed his eventual exit from the WWE as a whole.
Also read:“It won’t be confusing”: James Gunn Debunks Major Peacemaker Season 2 Rumor Eating Away at John Cena Fans
John Cena Addressed His Retirement From WWE
Since 2017, John Cena has concentrated more on his acting career than his wrestling career at the WWE, though he has made many appearances in the ring. The actor has his slate full with projects such asFast X, The Peacemaker, Wipeout, and upcoming films such asArgylle, Ricky Stanicky,andGrand Death Lotto.
Recently, John Cena spoke about his retirement plans from the WWE toPeoplemagazine. He said that although he would never say goodbye to the WWE company, he said that he would have to consider stepping out of the ring due to his age. He said,
“I turned 47 this past year and I don’t have much time left in the WWE…Every time I perform, I want to give my all to the audience. And I’ve got to admit when I hit the 45 mark, I had to begin to attempt to form an exit strategy and I’m trying to work on that currently.”
He also mentioned that even if he stepped off the ring, he would like to continue as a mentor for upcoming WWE wrestlers. He said that his over twenty years of experience as an athlete would come in handy as a coach or a mentor in the WWE, making sure his strings with the company live on. He said,
“Most athletes’ careers last three to five years. We’re talking 20 years here for me. So, you’ve got to ask yourself, like, what else do I know? What else do I want to pursue? What else am I curious about?… I basically just want to still leave WWE with my head up high and for the audience to be able to appreciate the effort that I’ve given.”
John Cena mentioned that he had over 10,000 hours of mastery over the craft and would want to look at what still drives him in the field.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2419
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
