John Cena’s retirement suddenly doesn’t sound so final
Only four dates remain on John Cena’s farewell tour before he officially calls it a career. As it stands, his final match is scheduled for December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
However, as confident as Cena seems about retiring, he may have just left the door slightly open for a possible return.
“Despite any speculation or rumors, on July 6, 2024 I announced I would retire from WWE in-ring participation. I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value. 12/13/25 will be my final match. I am beyond grateful for every moment WWE has given me. I am excited for 12/13 & look forward to seeing all of you one last time.”
For the most part, Cena’s statement reads as a firm “this is it.” But one line stands out and deserves a closer look:
“I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value.”
Loosely translated, that sounds like: “I make mistakes, but I try to do the right thing.”
So now it’s fair to ask: Is Cena hinting that he’s gone back on his word before? Is this a preemptive excuse in case he changes his mind later? If he’s fully committed to retiring, why not just say, “I’m done in December,” and leave it at that?
Overall, Cena seems sincere when he says he’s retiring. But countless wrestlers have made the same claim, notably Ric Flair, and more recently Shawn Michaels.
In the case of Flair, most figured he would make a comeback after losing what was supposed to be his last match at WrestleMania XXIV in 2008. And he did return, wrestling in TNA and eventually having his last match in 2022 at the age of 73.
Shawn Michaels was a different story. After losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI, many believed he was truly done — and for nearly a decade, he was. But in 2018, the chance to reunite with Triple H for one last tag match against The Undertaker and Kane brought him out of retirement. And of all places, it happened in Saudi Arabia.
WrestleMania 43 is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, and reports suggest the country is willing to pay top dollar to bring back retired legends. So the question is: Could a big enough paycheck convince Cena to break his promise?
We’ll have to wait and see.