John Cena’s WWE farewell tour is in full swing, with just around 20 appearances left before the 17-time world champion officially steps away from in-ring competition. While much of the WWE Universe speculated that Cena’s increasing Hollywood commitments had forced his hand, the real reason goes deeper.
Cena first announced his retirement during last year’s Money in the Bank event, and since then, fans have witnessed a dramatic shift in his character from a beloved babyface to a ruthless heel, vowing to “ruin wrestling forever.”
In a candid conversation with Stephanie McMahon on Stephanie’s Places, Cena offered a heartfelt look at the physical toll wrestling has taken on him and why it's time to hang up his boots.
“I used to do a clean and jerk with 330 pounds. That’s a 300-pound snatch. I can’t even do those lifts anymore because my body’s so beat up,” Cena admitted. “So as soon as I got through that jagged pill of like, ‘Oh man, I'm never gonna overhead press 374 pounds ever again. But let’s work to see what the best I can for today is’.
“It’s a very similar course to WWE. My skills are on regress. If I continue at a full-time physical capability or involvement, I’m not going to run right. My partner’s not gonna run right, and our relationship isn’t gonna run right. Sorry, kid, it’s time to close this chapter."
He aded,“I wish I was 18, I wish I felt great, because I don’t feel more at home, besides in the arms of my wife, than I do on the canvas. I had to pitch this idea, a real wrestling farewell, and hoping that they would see the business in it. And they were like, yes, this is, this is gonna be good.”
What's next for John Cena?
Cena is scheduled for a high-profile tag team match at Money in the Bank on June 7, where he will team up with Logan Paul to take on Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
