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John Cena Celebrated By WWE Fans After Icon Reveals WrestleMania 41 Retirement Plans

Julia StumbaughJuly 7, 2024

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: John Cena during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The wrestling community is celebrating 16-time WWE champion John Cena amid the news he will retire from the ring in 2025.

Triple H @TripleH

The Greatest of All Time. <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCena</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MITB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MITB</a> <a href="https://t.co/2IXxYx3Y8Z">pic.twitter.com/2IXxYx3Y8Z</a>

Cena shared the news Saturday at Money in the Bank at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

The moment John Cena announced his retirement from WWE 😒<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWE</a>) <br> <a href="https://t.co/IVPepbV32X">pic.twitter.com/IVPepbV32X</a>

The news shocked members of the wrestling community who have been watching Cena perform for more than two decades.

Jarrius Robertson @Jarrius

Forever grateful for what you did for me <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCena</a> πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouCena?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThankYouCena</a> <a href="https://t.co/oHTp2Jb9l8">https://t.co/oHTp2Jb9l8</a> <a href="https://t.co/7vj8CwM7Z7">pic.twitter.com/7vj8CwM7Z7</a>

Robert Griffin III @RGIII

John Cena is retiring from the WWE after WRESTLEMANIA 2025. His last run should be Legendary just like he has been. After 2025, like always, you can't see him in the ring again. <a href="https://t.co/zNCm4KBxtS">pic.twitter.com/zNCm4KBxtS</a>

Roman Reigns SZN πŸ’₯ @reigns_era

John Cena is retiring next year πŸ’”πŸ˜­ <br><br>Childhood over. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MITB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MITB</a> <a href="https://t.co/FXLzrEEQij">pic.twitter.com/FXLzrEEQij</a>

Cena told Sean Neumann of People in January that he was considering retirement from WWE. He has been wrestling in a part-time capacity for the last several years.

After "thank you Cena" chants echoed through Scotiabank following Cena's announcement, fans shared a similar sentiment online:

Tribal Fiend @TribalFiend_

Thank you John Cena for all the moments and memories over the years <br><br>From start to finish it has been a pleasure to follow your entire career <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouCena?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThankYouCena</a> <a href="https://t.co/qwYXtDuHoT">pic.twitter.com/qwYXtDuHoT</a>

liverklopp @liverklopp24

My childhood hero! Cena thank you for the memories❀️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoucena?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thankyoucena</a> <a href="https://t.co/SKGwFKRFBc">pic.twitter.com/SKGwFKRFBc</a>

Steven Kaye @StevenMKaye

Cena's the GOAT. No one had the top guy run that he had. Did everything a champion should do, and most importantly, was a tremendous role model for kids who truly walked the walk. <br><br>Deserves the Kobe/Jeter farewell tour <a href="https://t.co/zQaDGpuQiQ">pic.twitter.com/zQaDGpuQiQ</a>

While some celebrated Cena's career, other started preparing for Cena's upcoming retirement tour.

Cena confirmed that he will appear on WWE Raw when the competition moves to Netflix next year. He will also make appearances at the 2025 Royal Rumble and 2025 Elimination Chamber.

Dewey Foley @DeweyHaveTo

John Cena announcing his retirement tour will come to an end at next year's Mania πŸ₯ΊπŸ₯Ί gonna be a fun ride seeing him (hopefully) take on new and old faces alike. I hope none of us take this final run for granted. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWE</a>

Kyle @K_Ocheski

Damn Cena just announced that next year is his last. Knew it was coming but it's truly the end of an era, the retirement tour is gonna be legendary. Thank you Cena!!!

Daniel Furnell @deeefurn

Couldn't be more excited for this Cena retirement tour. Hope he gets all the flowers in the world and has one last generational run. The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOAT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GOAT</a> getting what he deserves

Skkrt Cobain @juicelessadriel

This Cena Farewell tour is gonna be one of the best runs ever i can feel it. one more World Title run to get him to break Flair's record would be a great bookend to his career i think

JustGregory @GregoryGambles

It's absolutely great that John Cena is gonna have a last dance, a proper farewell tour. So many other wrestlers go out without warning or stay too long. Cena is doing it right. <br>🐐

Ashwin @Sudharsan_ak

John Cena deserves to win the title one more time just to break the record and become the 17-time World Champion.<br><br>GOAT deserves itπŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ <a href="https://t.co/X4lCbiANJf">pic.twitter.com/X4lCbiANJf</a>

Cena's final competition in the ring will take place during WrestleMania 41, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20 in Las Vegas.

The news had fans planning out the ideal final match to cap off Cena's career:

FADE @FadeAwayMedia

John Cena'a final Wrestlemania match <br><br>It's only right ❀️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MITB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MITB</a> <a href="https://t.co/vNjevNB2GL">pic.twitter.com/vNjevNB2GL</a>

Colb @___Colb___

John Cena vs Randy Orton for his final match is all we're asking for.

Wrestling Daze @WrestlingDazeYT

It has to be John Cena vs Randy Orton at Wrestlemania next year<br>They both want the match, and we deserve them facing one final time.

Corey Brennan Of Fightful.com @CoreyBrennanFF

Cena should win the 2025 Rumble and he should be trying for 17 in his final match.

Wrestle Features @WrestleFeatures

John Cena's FINAL match is a HUGE deal.<br><br>I am expecting WWE to go all out with it.<br><br>Hall of Fame induction to coincide with the retirement next year.

Cena first debuted on television for WWE in 2002 and earned his first championship at WrestleMania 21 three years later.

He earned one of the most famous wins of his career at WrestleMania 29 in a rematch against Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Cena went on to win 13 WWE championships, three World Heavyweight Championships and four Tag Team Championships.

He will now retire from the ring next year as one of the biggest stars in WWE history.


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