The unlikely tag team of John Cena & Jelly Roll could soon be appearing on WWE TV following the music artist’s appearance at WWE SummerSlam. The Biggest Party of the Summer saw Jelly Roll perform as a musical guest as his tracks “Dead End Road” and “Liar” served as the official themes of the show.
Later in the night, Jelly Roll would deliver a chokeslam to Austin Theory and alongside Awesome Truth, leveled Theory and Grayson Waller with Cena-inspired ‘Five Knuckle Shuffles.’
Cena didn’t appear at SummerSlam, though the show in Cleveland did see a trailer for his upcoming film. On Twitter, Cena was impressed by Jelly Roll’s work at the show and suggested that the pair could team up the next time WWE comes to Jelly Roll’s native Nashville.
Have listened to his music, had the privilege of spending some time with him, and now know I have a GREAT option for a tag team partner anytime @WWE comes to Nashville! @JellyRoll615’s Time is Now!!!! #SummerSlamhttps://t.co/OjclazlcP7
Should Jelly Roll team with Cena, it wouldn’t be the 16-time WWE World Champion’s first unlikely ally. In 2007, Cena would hold World Tag Team Gold with Shawn Michaels, despite the pair being fierce rivals on the road to WrestleMania 23. History repeated itself four years later as Cena and The Miz became tag team champions ahead of their showdown at WrestleMania 27.
Cena’s days of being in a tag team will end next year as 2025 will mark the end of his in-ring career. Cena made the announcement at WWE Money in the Bank 2024 and the WWE icon is set to embark on a retirement tour later this year. New Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker has said he hopes to defend the title against Cena. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on John Cena and his retirement tour.
Posted August 5th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: John Cena.
CM Punk has expressed interest in joining John Cena’s WWE retirement tour next year but isn’t looking to reignite their storied rivalry.
Pro wrestling had a major presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 over the weekend, with stars from WWE and AEW participating in various stage panels.
During the ‘Mattel WWE’ panel at Comic-Con, Punk was asked about potential tag team partners. In a lighthearted moment, he jokingly named his dog Larry, who recently got his first merchandise at WWE Shop. Punk then shared a more serious answer:
“If I had to tag up with somebody to beat some people up, it would probably be Larry. Everybody’s asking me because John Cena has announced his retirement, and they obviously want to see us fight each other. I think there’s something to me and him tagging. I think that could be pretty interesting.”
Punk also likened his dynamic with Cena to that of Batman and Superman, highlighting the unique chemistry between the two wrestling icons.
CM Punk was one of John Cena’s greatest rivals, so it’s only fitting that he’s involved in the retirement tour in some capacity. Fans can look forward to seeing how this collaboration unfolds as Cena bids farewell to the WWE ring. The contrast between Cena’s prototypical superhero and Punk’s anti-hero persona created a compelling dynamic that captivated audiences. Their matches were often critically acclaimed, showcasing both men’s in-ring and storytelling abilities. Their rivalry produced several iconic moments, including Punk’s infamous pipebomb promo and their Money in the Bank 2011 match, often hailed as one of the greatest matches of this century.
Punk returns to action this weekend at WWE SummerSlam when he wrestles Drew McInture (with Seth Rollins as guest referee) in his first match since the Royal Rumble in January 2024.
John Cena has already declared that he’ll be at the first episode of WWE Raw when it moves to Netflix in January 2025, and intends to wrestle in the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble later that month.
CM Punk and John Cena may have been fierce rivals, but the Best in the World is more interested in teaming with the 16-time World Champion soon.
Speaking at a San Diego Comic-Con panel, Punk was asked about who he’d like to team with now that he’s back in WWE. While Punk’s first choice was Larry, his dog who now has official merch, John Cena was his second pick.
“Everybody’s asking me because (John) Cena has announced his retirement that, you know, obviously they wanna see us fight each other. I think there’s something to me and him tagging. I think that can be pretty interesting.”
Cena and Punk feuded in 2011 as part of the acclaimed ‘Summer of Punk’ that included Punk’s scathing Pipebomb on the June 27, 2011, edition of Monday Night RAW. Punk would ‘leave’ WWE as WWE Champion at Money in the Bank that year only to return eight days later and continue his feud with John.
Teaming with Cena was one of the last acts Punk would perform during his first WWE run before walking out of the company in January 2014. The pair last teamed during the December 18, 2013, edition of WWE SmackDown and earned a (DQ) victory over the Shield.
John Cena’s Retirement Tour
Cena shared at Money in the Bank 2024 that 2025 will be his final year wrestling, ending what will be a legendary 23-year career on WWE’s main roster. Already, several names have put themselves forward as potential opponents. Cena’s WrestleMania 27 adversary The Miz has said he’d love to be part of John’s farewell tour, as does ex-WWE Superstar Matt Cardona. Cena has said he does not have (or wish to use) the backstage sway to pick matches for his tour.
Now John Cena took to his X account and weighed-in on the matter. He has backed the idea of WrestleMania coming to London and believes the city deserves to host ‘The Shows of Shows.’ The 16-time World Champion is retiring in 2025 and he said won’t be able to compete when WrestleMania goes London. However, he assured that he will attend the show as a fan. He wrote:
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete when it happens but I will BE THERE as a fan for sure!
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete… https://t.co/JpcWNhSByH
After waiting for several years, the UK crowd could be getting what they want. They have been vocal about hosting WrestleMania for years and the interest peaked especially after WWE Money in the Bank 2023. The London crowd were surprised when John Cena made an appearance and floated the idea of WrestleMania coming to London.
Meanwhile, John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots. He didn’t mention when and where he would compete in his final match. However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing in the WWE PLEs.
The Miz is hoping to get one more moment with John Cena before the WWE legend calls it a career and hangs his wrestling boots for good.
The two WWE superstars have a long history together. They have been arch-rivals in the ring while also being really good friends behind the scenes.
The A-Lister recently had an interview with Sports Illustrated to discuss Cena announcing plans for his retirement from active competition. The Cenation Leader has confirmed that 2025 will be his last year as an active performer.
The former IC Champion mentioned how he is proud to have shared the ring with John Cena in his career and claimed that Cena is the greatest of all time. The Miz then expressed that he has mixed emotions on the announcement of his retirement:
“He’s a bona fide movie star now, but he loves this so much he’s still going to do live events. I still can’t believe this is it for him. I’m sad, but I’m also happy–this must be what he wants.”
The Miz mentioned their history including their latest encounter at Raw after WrestleMania 40 where they teamed together. The wrestling veteran said that he hopes to have one more moment with Cena before his career comes to a close:
“I would love one more moment with him. We were rivals for so long, and just this past WrestleMania, the day after, I’m tagging with John Cena doing the ‘You can’t see me’ and giving AA’s to people. I never thought I’d ever do that.”
John Cena and The Miz have shared the ring for more than 150 different matches both as rivals and tag team partners. The biggest testament to their importance in each other’s career is probably their main event match at WrestleMania XXVII.
With a rivalry as great as this, the 43-year-old certainly deserves the opportunity to step in the ring with the Hollywood Star at least one more time before the curtain falls on the legendary career of Cena.
WWE Superstar Big E recently shared some of his favorite moments working with John Cena. Here are some highlights of what Big E said about the 16-time World Champion during his recent appearance on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez:
Debut on the Main Roster
Big E reminisces about his memorable debut on the main roster, which involved a significant moment with John Cena.
“You know, he’s done so much. Selfishly, I would say my one moment is my debut. My debut in Philly at the Slammys in 2012, December, was me leaving him laying, standing over him to close the show. And that moment means so much because debuting on the main roster is incredible for everyone. But debuting like that, debuting, getting to stand over, arguably the greatest of all time. Yeah, yeah, it’s just me. He’s, you know, red hot. He is clearly the guy. So that meant a lot to me.”
Backstage Segment and Match with CM Punk and John Cena
Big E shares a fond memory of a backstage segment that led to a match involving himself, CM Punk, and John Cena against The Shield.
“But yeah, man, there’s so many different things. You know, we had a, I remember, I think about a year later, there was a backstage segment that led to a match. I think we wrestled the Shield, but it was me, Punk, and Cena. And there’s a deal where we all, with Renee was the interviewer at the time. We all put our hands in, did a little Shield deal, a little, I think it was like a holiday feel-good show. But even that moment of like, man, I’m young in my career. I don’t, I can’t remember if I had the IC title at the time, I might have. But just being able to stand in the ring with a guy like CM Punk, with John Cena and me, like, man, there are so many incredible moments. And I think back to so many times, you know, when I first came on the road, it was always, oh, Cena’s match is about to be up.”
Cena’s Epic Crowd Reactions
Big E talks about the unique crowd reactions John Cena would receive and recalls witnessing Cena’s matches against Dolph Ziggler, highlighting the special atmosphere and Cena’s impact on fans and fellow wrestlers.
“And so many of us would just be peeking out in front of the crowd because that Cena pop is different. And another thing, when I first came on the main roster, it was Cena and Dolph wrestling every single night. I remember one of my first main roster shows was we were doing MSG. They had a cage match. And to be there in New York during Cena’s prime, wrestling Dolph, who was red hot as well in the main event, to have the best seat in the house. I’m standing there, and I’m getting to see greatness. I’m getting to see how he manipulates the crowd, how they’re with them, from little kids to old women. He made so many special moments for our fans, for people, for talent, for us to see what it’s like to be the guy, to have that kind of reaction. So salute to everything that Cena has done for our industry, and even all the make-a-wishes as well. Man, it is really inspiring. So, he’s done a lot, I mean, a lot is an understatement, but he’s done so much for our industry and our business. So, salute to him.”
Ric Flair has a preference when it comes to who breaks his longstanding 16-time world champion streak, but would be more than honored if it was John Cena to eclipse him.
Cena made a surprise appearance at WWE Money In The Bank to announce that he’d be retiring in 2025, but not before he makes the most of the whole year. Cena aims to be at Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania before he hangs up the jorts and sneakers which could open the door for a lot of big matches for the future Hall Of Fame.
With Cena simply stating that he plans to enter the Royal Rumble match, his intentions are made clear that he has his eyes on gold. Cena is notoriously tied with Ric Flair in the amount of world championship reigns he’s had with 16, but if he were to capture one more he’d be atop of the mountain alone.
Since Cena’s announcement, it makes sense that Flair would be asked about that possibility being back on the table of John usurping him in the record books. In a recent interview with Busted Open Radio, Flair said he’d have no problem with John Cena breaking his record, but in a perfect world it would be his daughter, Charlotte Flair.
However, Flair provided further clarity on his comments, taking to social media on July 17 to make clear he’s very happy for John or for anyone that would break the record.
“There Has Been Way Too Much Attention Brought To This. Let’s Just Set The Record Straight For The Final Time. My First Choice Would Obviously Be The Queen Charlotte Flair. I Think The World Of My Friend John Cena, Who Is An Incredible Athlete & Genuine Person! I Will Be The First Person To Shake His Hand & Congratulate Him If He Breaks My Record As I Would For Anybody Who Would Break It. When That Day Comes, It Will Be An Honor! WOOOOO!”
There Has Been Way Too Much Attention Brought To This. Let’s Just Set The Record Straight For The Final Time. My First Choice Would Obviously Be The Queen @MsCharlotteWWE. I Think The World Of My Friend @JohnCena, Who Is An Incredible Athlete & Genuine Person! I Will Be The First… pic.twitter.com/C1EqPVZO5S
While Charlotte and Cena are both in contention to pass up ‘The Nature Boy’ another name nipping at the heels is Randy Orton with 14 World Championship reigns. Flair also took note of ‘The Viper’ while on Busted Open Radio. It’s been greatly implied that Orton has been eyeing up Cody Rhodes’ gold despite him being brutally attacked by The Bloodline this past Friday on SmackDown.
WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash is excited to see John Cena’s retirement tour, a tour that he believes the 16-time World Champion wholly deserves.
Unlike other wrestlers who have had retirement matches, Cena will have a whole tour that will see him make 100 dates in 2025. On his Kliq This podcast, Nash compared Cena’s final run to rock band KISS’ high-profile farewell tour.
“It’s the KISS retirement tour. It made the morning news, local, that John Cena was retiring and I had seen the Money in the Bank [event] and I was like ‘alright.’ He definitely deserves it, he’s worked his ass off. And the thing about John is that he’ll make a Make-A-Wish appearance at everyone [of the shows he appears at.]
John Cena’s Retirement
Cena announced during the Money in the Bank PLE that 2025 will be his final year in wrestling. Details are scarce regarding the retirement of John Cena but fans are already excited to see what’s to come. Despite his monumental star power, Cena has said he does not feel he’s in a position where he can make specific requests regarding opponents for his retirement tour.
Whatever WWE has planned, fans are optimistic that Cena will be given a send-off fitting his legendary career in the ring. There’s no shortage of names from Cena’s past still in WWE who he could work with if he wishes to. On the flip side, working with younger talent who’ve yet to step in the ring with ‘Big Match John‘ would help these younger talents immensely. Whatever’s to come, expect to see plenty of John Cena ahead of his retirement in 2025.
Self-professed ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona is hoping to step in the ring with John Cena as part of the 16-time WWE World Champion’s impending retirement tour.
At WWE Money in the Bank, Cena shared that 2025 will be his final year in the ring, ending a 23-year wrestling career in WWE. In a recent interview with SE Scoops’ own Scott Fishman, Cardona made it clear he hopes to face John before Cena hangs up his jorts.
“I would love to wrestle John Cena one last time. I think with the way WWE is now, it’s something that could happen where I could just walk in, whether it be for one day, or make a return… Zack Ryder vs. John Cena, those matches were fine. They were what they were. John Cena vs. Matt Cardona, that’s that’s where the story is.”
John Cena’s Retirement
Details are scarce regarding the retirement of John Cena but fans are already excited to see what’s to come. Despite his monumental star power, Cena has said he does not feel he’s in a position where he can make specific requests regarding opponents for his retirement tour.
Cena and Cardona (Zack Ryder at the time) became a duo on WWE TV in late 2011 and early 2012 during Cena’s feud with the recently-returned Kane. To get in Cena’s head, Kane repeatedly attacked Ryder and also targeted Zack’s on-screen girlfriend Eve Torres. During an infamous episode of WWE TV, Cena would save Eve from an attack by Kane, only to be kissed by the former Divas Champion. The camera would pivot to reveal Ryder (now in a wheelchair after weeks of attacks) had seen the kiss.
Could Matt Cardona return years later to get revenge on ‘Big Match John’? Given WWE’s willingness to work with others outside the promotion, it certainly seems more possible than ever before.
Rob Van Dam and John Cena had one of the most memorable matches in pro wrestling history and RVD is confident he and Cena could repeat it before John hangs up the jorts.
Speaking on an upcoming episode of his 1 Of A Kind With RVD, Rob Van Dam was asked his thoughts on John Cena announcing his 2025 retirement tour for WWE. Van Dam is still very active in the squared circle and believes the two could recreate the magic they did back at ECW One Night Stand 2006.
“I Hope they bring me in for a rematch with Cena. That would be super cool. I don’t know if they know, but I know I could have that same match, Absolutely.”
Rob Van Dam has shown he hasn’t missed a beat in the several matches he’s had in AEW and even over WrestleMania 40 weekend, competed against Speedball Mike Bailey in a memorable singles match that featured Jerry Lynn as the special guest referee.
Due to injury, RVD was unable to compete at the first WWE version of One Night Stand in 2005, but fate would have it that Van Dam would battle Cena for the WWE Championship a year later. RVD arguably had one of, if not the greatest Money In The Bank cash-in, by calling his shot ahead of time to challenge Cena at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Van Dam was asked what it was like grappling up with Cena that night and he commended John for his pure strength, but also how he handled the hostile crowd in the Hammerstein Ballroom.
“He was able to pull the strings with the crowdvand he knew going out there that he was going to be up against a crowd that that hated him. A really vocal, physical, most opinionated crowd ever, but he was ready for it, and he handled it great, and I enjoyed working with him. And also he was very, very snug.”
John Cena made a surprise appearance at last month’s Money in the Bank 2024 to announce his retirement. Cena is not an ordinary character and his retirement plan is fittingly unusual.
The 16-time World Champion is going out in a big way and has announced the John Cena WWE retirement tour spanning January-December 2025. He’s planning to make around 40 appearances next year and is still driven to a World Champion. Legends such as Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle have done big retirement angles, but Cena simply wants to wrestle in front of his fans all around the world before he calls it a career.
With those loose parameters, here are 5 things we want to see out of John Cena’s final year with WWE.
1. John Cena Should Put Over Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes is a bona fide superstar, and by most metrics the biggest babyface WWE has built since John Cena. Moreover, while the two had some forgettable matches against each other during The American Nightmare’s first WWE run, the matchup still feels fresh, given fans are now looking at a totally different version of Rhodes as a credible main event act.
Rhodes vs. Cena feels like a dream match, and given that one of each man’s greatest strengths is their promo skills, there’s every opportunity to make this feel like a match for the ages. Most importantly, though, Rhodes has, since returning to WWE, beaten Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles. There’s every indicator that The Rock may well put him over, and an encounter with Randy Orton is heavily rumored. Cena is one of a small handful of truly meaningful stars whom Rhodes can still beat for the first time, and in so doing close the door on the past generation of WWE stars.
2. John Cena Should Avoid Long Feuds
Long-term storytelling has its merits as WWE has demonstrated with Cody Rhodes vs. The Bloodline, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, and Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan to name a few. However, there when time is a limited resource, there can also be a sense that a wrestler is squandering his time when he faces the same opponent over and over again.
As a key example, it was great to see Edge back in a WWE ring from 2020 to 2023. As good as Seth Rollins and Finn Balor each were, though, it was still hard not to feel like the company burned daylight by having The Rated R Superstar feud for so long with these particular rivals when there was a slate of fresher programs he never got to.
Hopefully, John Cena will have some rich storylines to sink his teeth into. Just the same, when he only has one year left, it would be a shame to see him linger too long on just one opponent.
3. John Cena Should Win The World Heavyweight Championship
One of the biggest question marks surrounding John Cena’s last year is whether he’ll break his tie with Ric Flair and win a record seventeenth world championship. There’s a case to be made in either direction.
On one hand, Cena certainly doesn’t need another world title for credibility, other talents would benefit more, and there’s a certain lame-duck quality to a champ fans know plans to retire inside a year.
On the other hand, it’s rare that there’s an opportunity to make history on this level, and Cena is one of the strikingly few legitimate franchise players WWE’s had who would make sense to accomplish this specific feat. While it wouldn’t be wise to mess with a WWE Championship picture that involves Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Rock, there is more leeway to squeeze in one last, brief title reign for Cena with the World Heavyweight Championship.
4. John Cena Should Put Over Uncle Howdy
WWE
WWE’s handling of Bray Wyatt was all over the place, but one of this greatest accomplishments was beating John Cena at WrestleMania. Cena won their first feud—including their first ‘Mania match in 2014. Wyatt beat Cena in a polarizing and unforgettable Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36, though, that, in many ways, was the perfect testament to Wyatt’s legacy in WWE.
One of the best ways to pay homage to the late Wyatt and give his brother, Uncle Howdy, a concrete push, would be for Cena to do the honors for this family once more. There’s a variety of ways to do this, but one relatively low stakes proposition that would befit the legacy they’re following in would be to stage one more Firefly Fun House match—or work a comparable gimmick—before Cena moves on.
5. John Cena Should Avoid Wasting Too Much Time On Nostalgia Feuds
From the post-Money in the Bank press conference alone, questions arose about John Cena wrestling The Rock one more time or feuding with CM Punk one more time. There is a certain appeal to revisiting these iconic matchups that fans never thought they’d have the chance to see again–particularly for a setting like WrestleMania 41. On the other hand, there’s also a point at which it’s better to move on to new things.
While one-off matches with Punk, Rock, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, The Miz, or Roman Reigns could be enjoyable nods to their histories together, these are also all matches fans have seen at least twice in high-profile, fully realized situations. With a fresher slate of prospective opponents like Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Drew McIntyre, Bron Breakker, LA Knight, Logan Paul, and quite few others awaiting him, it would be better for Cena to focus his retirement tour on matchups that haven’t already been over-exposed.
John Cena looks like he had the time of his life at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding celebration this past week in Mumbai, India. The 16-time World Champion was one of 1,200 guests in attendance for what’s being called India’s wedding of the year.
WWE’s G.O.A.T. flashed some of his signature poses for the media upon his arrival, including the the ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand gesture. Cena was also seen at the event being assisted by guests on how to wear a safa; a traditional turban worn by men at weddings in Northern India.
John Cena described his experience at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding as “a surreal 24 hours” in his social media post. He expressed gratitude towards the Ambani family for their “unmatched warmth and hospitality.”
Cena mentioned meeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as one of the memorable experiences from the wedding. As someone who has inspired millions of people around the world for decades, it’s pretty cool to see Cena being so proud to personally tell Shah Rukh Khan about “the positive effect he has had on my life.”
A surreal 24 hours. So grateful for the Ambani family for their unmatched warmth and hospitality.
An experience filled with so many unforgettable moments which allowed me to connect with countless new friends, including meeting @iamsrk and being able to tell him personally the… pic.twitter.com/MNRb29cFuV
The happy couple getting married are Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Ambani is the son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. Merchant is the daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of a healthcare company. The wedding festivities have been split between Antilia, the home of the Ambanis, and the Jio World Convention Centre. Given the size and scale of the event, it’s hardly a surprise that this had been dubbed India’s wedding of the year.
The Guest List
The couple’s guest list is a who’s who of notable figures around the world. In addition to John Cena, the ceremony includes Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Boris Johnson, and Tony Blair. Earlier this year, Rhianna was one of the A-Listers at a pre-wedding celebration held in March. At the event, Rhianna performed a full-length concert, her first in either years.
In May, the couple hosted their second celebration, a four-day cruise through the Mediterranean. Once again, the couple had a massive guest list. This included surprise performances from the Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Pitbull.
John Cena’s WWE Plans
Cena appeared at WWE Money in the Bank earlier this month in Toronto, Canada, and shared that 2025 will mark his final year in wrestling. Cena has competed in at least one WWE match each year since making his debut on TV in June 2002. At this time, details are scarce about Cena’s impending retirement, though fans are hopeful WWE will give the 16-time World Champion a fitting sendoff.
Pro wrestling veteran Chris Jericho feels that fans have a great time ahead of them as John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots.
Chris Jericho recently made an appearance on McGuire on Wrestling podcast and he was asked to share his insights on Cena’s retirement tour. It was mentioned to the former WWE star that Cena’s retirement means he has outlasted the 16-time World Champion. While Jericho agreed, he reckoned that John Cena always had a great connection with his fans and it’s an amazing way to end his career.
“My career is already longer than John Cena’s. No, I mean it’s great. John’s always had a great love for wrestling and he’s got a great connection with the fans, so I think it’s a cool way to go about it.”
‘The Learning Tree’ is certain that Cena will be focused on ensuring that the retirement plans turn out well and he believes fans will enjoy watching Cena back in the squared circle for his final run. He said:
“People know that this is it, and John’s not the type of guy to say anything lightly, so I’m sure he’s been focused on this and working with the company to make sure it’s right. I’m sure it’s going to be a really great year-and-a-half for Cena fans and for John Cena himself.”
John Cena’s retirement
‘The Leader of Cenation’ made his surprise return during last Saturday’s WWE Money In The Bank PLE at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. He shocked the fans when he announced that he decided to hang up his boots next year. He didn’t specify when and where he would compete in his final match.
However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania. During the post-show press conference, he further shared details of his upcoming farewell tour.
John Cena has shared his reasons for why he’s chosen to don jean shorts (aka Jorts) for much of his career as a WWE Superstar.
Cena infamously debuted on a June 2002 edition of WWE SmackDown by answering Kurt Angle’s open challenge wearing plain-looking trunks. It wouldn’t be until his ‘white rapper’ gimmick that Cena would begin wearing jorts, a look he continues to wear for matches to this day.
With Cena’s career in WWE winding down, the 16-time WWE World Champion has been in a reflective mood. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Cena shared his reasoning for sticking with his jorts for over two decades.
“The reason I wear jorts is because I’ve tried everything. Denim is really durable—it doesn’t rip a lot as long as you can find a good fit. I don’t need any families attending a WWE event looking at my ugly bits All you need to do is find something that fits around the butt and the thigh, because I always wear a drawstring belt. A belt buckle, you can really get messed up on. I’ve learned this through failure. It can stab you, it can scratch you, it can scrape you and it can also cause damage to opponents and referees. This is not a good piece of equipment.”
While Cena can be seen wearing suits in public appearances outside WWE, odds are he’ll be rocking the jorts for what will be his final year as an in-ring talent. At WWE Money in the Bank 2024, Cena shared that he will retire from wrestling next year and is set to embark on a retirement tour. At this time, several details about this tour are unknown though fans can expect John to receive a fitting send-off by WWE.
John Cena and Money In The Bank were indeed the pro wrestling talk of the weekend, but they weren’t exactly the talk of the weekend, at least on social media.
Money In The Bank took place Saturday night, but so did other newsworthy events that it wasn’t a top 15 trending topic for Google in the United States.
John Cena was the only WWE-related topic to surpass over 100,000 searches as Cena made an appearance at the PLE to announce that his final match would take place in 2025. Although he placed sixth, Cena was “knocked out” of trending searches in part by the Jorge Masdival vs. Nick Diaz boxing fight. Diaz ended up getting the W against his longtime UFC rival in a bout of pugilism.
Despite not taking the world by storm Cena should remain a newsworthy topic on social media for days to come considering how impactful Cena’s announcement was. However, the other ongoings at Money In The Bank will likely settle down as the days pass, especially with WWE RAW picking up on Monday.
Other trending topics for July 6 was the unfortunate passing of NFL star Khyree Jackson, England vs. Switzerland in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Not only were there other sports topics to contend with, but American wrestling fans had plenty to stay occupied away from their screens as it was Independence Day weekend for the United States of America.
Cena was an unexpected presence at Money In The Bank making his major announcement after being introduced by Trish Stratus. Cena was early to hint at his intentions as he came out with a rally towel stating that “The Last Time Is Now.”
CM Punk has teased one more match with John Cena before his retirement,
One of the biggest surprises of the Money In The Bank 2024 PPV was the unannounced appearance of John Cena. The Cenation Leader cut a promo during the show and announced that WrestleMania 41 will be his last.
The Straight Edge star who was part of the post-show press conference was asked about the big announcement from his arch-rival. Punk revealed what he told the Peacemaker star when they ran into each other backstage after the segment:
“I know he is busy, he’s filming Peacemaker. So I figured he was leaving right away. I was pleasantly surprised to run into him afterwards, and I told him, I’ll be the guy that drags him out of retirement.
This retirement that he says he’s going to adhere to, and that’s it. When the final one happens, that’s going to be it. Like 15 years, I’ll drag him out of retirement.”
One More Time: CM Punk
CM Punk discussed what John Cena means to his career and said that he feels proud at being an integral part of Cena’s run. He then teased one final showdown with the 16-time world champion before he calls it a career:
“But Cena, I think to my career means a lot. I don’t think there’s many people up in that rare air where if you talk about my career, I feel you have to talk about John. And makes me feel proud that I think if you talk about John’s career, I think you have to talk about me. We’re married in that respect, so proud of him.
He gets to go out on his terms. I know that’s important. I’m looking forward to what he does. And I told him that if it’s going to be one more time, we gotta do it at least one more time.”
John Cena was also part of the press conference where he provided some more details on his retirement tour. You can check out what he said here.
Cena’s announcement understandably had the wrestling world abuzz with many taking to social media to share their reactions. On Twitter, Baron Corbin made his claim to face Cena in what will be John’s final match.
‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor reacted to Cena’s retirement by using the same verbiage that John used to announce the death of Osama Bin Laden after WWE Extreme Rules 2011.
John Cena’s career compromised to a permanent end.
— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) July 7, 2024
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has lavished praise on John Cena as the WWE Icon-turned-Hollywood A-Lister prepares for his life after the ring.
The 16-time WWE World Champion made a surprise appearance at Money In The Bank 2024 with some sobering news. In front of the rabid Toronto crowd, John confirmed that he will retire from competition in 2025 and his final match will take place at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
At the WWE Money in the Bank post-show, Levesque was asked for his thoughts on Cena’s impending retirement from the ring. Levesque, who retired due to health issues in 2022, had nothing but good words for his friend and former rival.
“A lot of people talk about legends and icons and [there’s] so much speculation about who would be on wrestling’s Mt. Rushmore. I don’t care what metric you use, John is on the top of all of them. He’s had an unbelievable career.”
After speaking about Cena being able to call his ‘shot’ given his immense success, Levesque concluded with his personal views on the 16-time WWE World Champion.
“For me personally, I want to say thank you to John for everything he’s done. Everything he’s done for WWE, for all of the Superstars here, and for what he’s done just for sports entertainment and pro wrestling, for all of it in general. Against his will, a while ago he was being called the greatest of all time. But he truly is, I believe that. So thank you to John.”
Little is currently known about John Cena’s final match, though it obviously won’t be in London, England as he previously suggested. Nevertheless, fans can expect a fitting send-off by WWE to a talent whose name is etched in history as one of the all-time greats.
John Cena wants to take fans on a ride they won’t forget next year. In a revealing press conference following Saturday’s WWE’s Money in the Bank show from Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, the wrestling icon shared a lot of details about his upcoming retirement tour, marking the end of his illustrious in-ring career.
Cena announced that his final run will span the entire year. “If everything goes to plan, I’ll be wrestling from January to December,” Cena stated.
He also confirmed that this retirement is definitive. “A lot of sports entertainment retirements are dishonest. I’m done. This is it,” Cena asserted, adding, “If you ever wanted to be part of this, now is the time to get on board.”
Remaining Part of the WWE Family
Cena joked that his iconic ring attire – the jorts and colorful t-shirts that have become synonymous with his character – will be retiring alongside him. He also made it clear that post-retirement, he won’t be involved in physical aspects of the shows, ruling out appearances as a guest referee.
However, fans can take solace in knowing that Cena’s association with WWE isn’t ending completely. He expressed his desire to remain part of the WWE family for years to come, albeit in a different capacity. “I’m passionate about wrestling and still yell at the screen while watching. I have wisdom I want to pass along,” he explained.
Ending on a Historic Note
Cena’s retirement tour isn’t born out of necessity due to injury, as is often the case in professional wrestling. Instead, it’s a conscious decision driven by gratitude. “This is not a bad thing. This is a great thing,” Cena emphasized, highlighting his appreciation for the opportunity to bid farewell on his own terms.
As Cena’s legendary career draws to a close, he’s not content to simply ride off into the sunset. Cena expressed interest in pursing a 17th world championship, indicating his final year will be anything but predictable.
Society has changed a lot over the years, but two constants that have remained cultural favorites for decades are Discovery’s ‘Shark Week’ and a certain jorts-wearing WWE Superstar with a penchant for dad jokes. This year, those worlds are colliding.
Discovery has announced Shark Week 2024 kicks off Sunday, July 7 and will be hosted by John Cena. Last year’s week was hosted by Hollywood star Jason Mamoa, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson serving as Master of Ceremonies.
This is notable due to Discovery’s connection to Warner Bros. Discovery and, by extension, AEW. It is likely that Cena will appear in promotional campaigns airing during All Elite Wrestling’s shows on TBS and TNT, similar to what we’ve seen with his obstacle course show Wipeout.
The 16-time WWE Champion is currently on another hiatus from the company, thanks to his demanding Hollywood schedule. He was last seen during WrestleMania 40 weekend, where he had a cameo spot in Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns’ main event Bloodline rules match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He then wrestled an impromptu match on WWE Raw the following night.
What is Shark Week?
The annual, week-long television block on the Discovery Channel featuring shark-based programming originally premiered on July 17, 1988, and it kept returning thanks to strong turnout in the ratings.
Over the years, Shark Week has only grown in popularity, becoming a major hit on the Discovery Channel. Since 2010, it has held the record as the longest-running cable television programming event in history.
WWE is heading to Lyon, France for this weekend’s Backlash 2024 Premium Live Event, and legendary wrestler John Cena could well be making an appearance at the show. A photo of Cena has emerged on social media which has created a buzz among the fans. Many believe that the former 16-time World Champion could be showing up at this Saturday’s Backlash Premium Live Event.
WWE fan @medy.storn on Instagram posted a photo with the man the company has dubbed the ‘Greatest Of All Time,’ who donned a snapback and a sweatshirt outside Copenhagen Coffee Lab. Cena is currently in Nice, France as he is busy filming ‘Heads of State,’ a movie project with Amazon Studios co-starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
It’s worth noting that Copenhagen Coffee Lab has multiple outlets in France and going by the caption, the picture was clicked in Nice, France. Lyon is under 300 miles from Nice, so Cena might as well reach the destination within five hours.
John Cena has a track record of making surprise appearances at the PLEs and the list includes WWE Money In The Bank 2023 that took place in London, England as well as last month’s WrestleMania 40. Thereby, it will be interesting to see if he makes his presence felt at the show.
The 47-year-old legend’s most recent in-ring appearance took place during impromptu match on WWE Raw the night after WrestleMania 40. Cena teamed up with R-Truth and The Miz to defeat the Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.
WWE fans hoping to see John Cena wrestle again are in luck. During a special appearance on the Pat McAfee Show at WWE World that took place just hours before that match, Cena said he’s planning one final run with WWE in 2025. His acting schedule is very busy for the remainder of this year, but he is not retired from WWE just yet.
Catch WWE Backlash 2024 from LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, Lyon Metropolis, France at 1 p.m. ET. The countdown show will air live prior at noon ET.
WWE was right to avoid turning John Cena heel once he became a top star, according to reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Despite the occasional tease over the years, WWE never pulled the trigger on a John Cena heel turn after he became the top star of the promotion. On a recent edition of the Cheap Heat Productions podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Statguy Greg, Rhodes discussed a potential heel turn for himself and compared his position to that of ‘Big Match John.’
“I think minimally about [the prospect of turning heel.] And I could…you never say never. John [Cena]’s never happened, and I think rightfully so. I think what we got there, we look back at now and realize [it was right not to turn him.]”
Cena never turned heel as a top star, though WWE did once have plans for such a turn. WWE was so committed to the idea that the promotion had a new attire and theme created for the 16-time WWE World Champion before scrapping the idea.
WWE has struggled in the 21st Century to create babyfaces with Cena and Roman Reigns being heavily booed by fans though WWE did eventually turn Reigns heel. With Rhodes being that rare commodity of a face accepted across all age ranges among fans, WWE would be wise to keep him as a face, but must find the balance between pushing their babyface WWE Champion without over pushing him in a move akin to ‘Super-Cena.’
Rhodes’ next challenge will be against somebody who’s had no problem turning heel in WWE: AJ Styles. The two will face off at WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has thrown his name among the mix of people hoping to see WrestleMania come to the UK capital city.
Khan, no relation to WWE’s Nick or AEW’s Tony, made his bold claim while on the campaign trail ahead of the mayoral election on May 2. The 54-year-old Labour Party member brought up WWE’s flagship show in a press release when speaking about London’s potential as a sporting juggernaut.
“I’m determined to go even further and fully cement London’s reputation as the undisputed sports capital of the world. I believe that London has the potential to host the first international WrestleMania.”
Khan’s comment earned a response from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque who was seemingly interested in discussing the matter further.
Khan is hardly alone in his belief that the UK is deserving of a WrestleMania. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance in London and shared his mission to bring WrestleMania to the city.
Following Cena’s comment, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones shared her support for a London-based WrestleMania and touted the economic benefits of the event. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is also on the UK bandwagon. At a recent WWE live event in London, the American Nightmare advocated for WrestleMania to take place in the UK.
While many fans in the UK and Europe hope to see a WrestleMania closer to home, that is proving to be easier said than done. WWE President Nick Khan recently noted that ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. WWE’s next PLE outside the continent will be Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland this June followed by WWE Bash In Berlin this August in Germany.
Plans for WrestleMania
Here are some recent articles about upcoming WrestleMania plans and where fans can expect the shows to take place:
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was left standing tall after WrestleMania 40 went off the air, and now hopes to bring the annual mega-show to the UK.
After the match, Rhodes spoke about keeping his promise to the fans after stating at a previous WWE event that the next time he’s in the UK, he would be a champion. Amid chants of ‘You Deserve It’ from the crowd, Rhodes said that the fans deserve a WrestleMania in the UK.
“If anybody deserves anything, I’m going to echo John Cena saying the United Kingdom deserves a WrestleMania.”
While Rhodes, John Cena, and countless fans hope to bring WrestleMania to the UK, this monumental feat is easier said than done. The time difference between the UK and the United States would be a huge factor as PLEs in the UK air much earlier in the day States-side.
Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, it appears that WrestleMania won’t be making the move just yet. WWE President Nick Khan recently stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future.
WrestleMania’s Future
The location of WrestleMania 41 has yet to be publicly confirmed, with Las Vegas and Minneapolis currently the front runners. While the Minnesotan city has been treated as a ‘lock’ for the 2025 event, some believe that WWE will head to Vegas following the chilly conditions of WrestleMania 40.
Vince McMahon’s days in WWE may be a thing of the past, but the former Chairman remains in touch with some huge names from the world of pro wrestling.
McMahon resigned from WWE for the second time in January 2024 and unlike his 2022 retirement, he is not expected to return. WWE has made a concerted effort to distance themselves from McMahon including launching a new ‘era’ with WrestleMania 40, the first ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ without McMahon’s involvement. McMahon recently listed the remainder of his stock in TKO for sale which if all is sold, would give him no shareholder influence over the company.
Loyal Friends
While WWE has avoided referencing McMahon on its programming, the billionaire remains in contact with TKO board member Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, NBC News reports. The Brahma Bull was appointed to the board around the same time that the Janel Grant lawsuit against McMahon that resulted in his resignation came to light.
The 78-year-old billionaire also remains in contact with John Cena though there’s no word on what either man discusses with McMahon. This isn’t the first time Cena’s name has been linked to McMahon following his resignation. The 16-time World Champion’s recent comments about loving McMahon despite the allegations against him spawned a backlash for the wrestler-turned-actor.
As the top dog in professional wrestling for decades, McMahon built the careers of countless individuals so it’s hardly a surprise that some remain loyal to the controversial billionaire. While it’s been stated that nobody in WWE is defending McMahon, Ronda Rousey isn’t so sure and recently claimed that as long as Bruce Prichard is involved in WWE, McMahon has a direct line to influence decisions.
More Exits
McMahon’s departure from WWE is arguably the biggest exit in company history but he isn’t the only veteran to leave the squared circle behind. Kevin Dunn left WWE after over four decades in late 2023 despite hopes within the promotion that he’d stay on until WrestleMania 40. He has been replaced as Head of Production by Lee Fitting.
Sue Aitchison is another long-time WWE name who has left WWE. Aitchison oversaw WWE’s outreach department and played an intrinsic role in nurturing the company’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. For her efforts, she received the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award in 2019.
Right now, it’s hard to ignore the ‘changing of the guard’ atmosphere within WWE as those who ruled the company for decades are no longer in the picture. With that said it’ll still be some time until Vince’s people are fully phased out of the promotion’s internal workings.
As McMahon prepares for possibly the biggest fight of his life, at least legally speaking, the fact that some of WWE’s top names have kept in touch with him is an interesting development, and suggests that McMahon could indeed have an interest in WWE greater than what those in the promotion are letting on.
