Add as a preferred source on Google John Cena once again said his WWE in-ring retirement is permanent, even though he will remain connected to the company in the coming years.
Cena had his final match on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. There, he was defeated by Gunther in a match promoted by WWE itself as his official in-ring farewell.
Even so, the “Cenation Leader” remains tied to the company as an ambassador. In December, Cena signed a new five-year deal with WWE, making it clear that he will still have a presence outside the ring.
Speaking with SHOWSHA while promoting the Netflix film Little Brother, Cena again explained that he does not plan to wrestle again.
“There is no way to describe how my tenure in WWE prepared me for human life. All aspects of the person I am today have been crafted in that cauldron of heat.”
“My vocation doesn’t determine my totality, and I am retired from in-ring performance. I’m a member of the WWE family as a as an ambassador, I’m very excited about the John Cena Classic.”
Cena also reiterated that he promised the audience he would step away once he realized he was no longer moving at the same pace.
“I made a promise to the audience that molded me into who I am that when I was a step too slow I had to step away, that happened last year. I’m very happy with the 23 years I’ve spent giving myself to that performance on canvas.”
“It would take an unfathomable amount of financial investment to get me back in the ring, so that way I can I can say to any sound business mind I will never wrestle again.”
Little Brother, starring Cena, Eric André, and Michelle Monaghan, premieres on Netflix on June 26.