John Cena Shares More Information On His Upcoming Retirement Schedule

The big story coming out of last month’s Money In The Bank premium live event was John Cena announcing his intention to retire from the ring. Wearing a t-shirt with the words “ The Last Time is Now ,” Cena revealed that 2025 would be his final year as a professional wrestler, although he would note during the post-show press conference he wouldn’t be distancing himself from the business. And now, while being interviewed by Collider , he has been more specific regarding his plans, stating that he’ll be wrestling “ around 36 dates around the world. ”

“I am retiring in 2025, and I start that farewell tour in January. I’ll end it in December, and it’s going to be right around 36 dates around the world to pay thanks and gratitude to the WWE audiences around the world. So that’s what I’m doing in 2025.”

47-year-old Cena broke into the wrestling industry in 1998 via Ultimate Pro Wrestling, going by the name The Prototype. From there, he received a couple of WWE tryout matches in 2000, resulting in him signing for the company the following year and being assigned to its then-developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Subsequently, he would make a memorable WWE television debut on SmackDown by confronting Kurt Angle. However, his long-term future with the company would become uncertain after failing to connect with fans in the following months. Yet despite this, after demonstrating his legitimate rap skills, he adopted the “Doctor of Thuganomics” gimmick, and his career began skyrocketing.