John Cena Bids Farewell: Wrestling Legend Confirms Final WWE Exit After 25-Year Career

As his retirement tour electrifies fans across the U.S., the WWE icon and rising Hollywood star promises never to return to the ring—honoring a vow to end his storied career with integrity.

John Cena, the face of WWE for over two decades and a formidable force in Hollywood, has officially confirmed what fans have long feared—his final match in December 2025 will mark the definitive end of his wrestling career.

The 47-year-old superstar, currently on a high-energy retirement tour that spans 36 U.S. states, appeared on Good Morning America this week to make his intentions crystal clear. When asked by host Michael Strahan about the possibility of a comeback after the tour, Cena didn’t flinch.

“There is no way,” Cena stated firmly. “I don’t want to speak in absolutes… but I made a promise to the fans who’ve allowed me to be here for a quarter of a century. I wouldn’t want to disrespect them like that.”

Despite being in great shape and still able to “perform at a WWE level,” Cena admitted that instinct told him it was time to pass the torch to the next generation.

“It’s then just a battle of, ‘How long do I fight those red flags before it could be counterproductive?’” he said, acknowledging a slight but undeniable decline in speed and readiness.

Cena’s farewell tour, announced six months in advance, is unlike anything WWE has seen. Halfway through the 36-state commitment, he says the realization is setting in—for him and for fans—that this truly is the end.

“Nobody thought I was serious. But now that people really understand that my last match is in December, the audiences have been electric,” Cena shared.

The December finale promises to be more than just another match—it’s a moment of closure, respect, and gratitude. “This is an event—when people attend, it’s very exclusive,” Cena explained. “I wouldn’t want to ruin that goodwill for selfish gain.”

Cena, who burst onto the wrestling scene in 2002, has seamlessly transitioned into film. He’s earned box office acclaim with roles in Bumblebee, Trainwreck, F9, and The Suicide Squad, and he currently stars alongside Priyanka Chopra and Idris Elba in Amazon’s political action-comedy Heads of State.

Reflecting on the action-heavy film, Cena joked with Entertainment Weekly, “Every director is like, ‘Do some of that fighting stuff you do.’ I’m like, ‘I get really beat up and I’m good at picking people up and heavy things, but I don’t know any martial arts.’ I am proudly ‘gym strong.’”

As the December showdown approaches, Cena’s message is clear: his WWE chapter is closing with dignity, gratitude, and no intentions of turning the page again. And for the millions who’ve followed him from the ring to the red carpet, it’s a curtain call worthy of a legend.