John Cena Reveals His Plans for Retiring From the WWE

Several weeks after revealing he’s forming a WWE “exit strategy,” John Cena announced on Tuesday night that “the time has come” for him to retire from the WWE. “That’s not a maybe. That time is gonna come and it’s gonna come soon,” the 46-year-old star told Entertainment Tonight. “The miles on the speedometer say, ‘Hey, that’s gotta be done before 50.'”

That would be around 2027, just in time for the 25th anniversary of Cena’s WWE debut. Cena said his decision has a lot to do with preserving the sanctity of the WWE for fans who expect, and deserve, the fiercest, most competitive fighters.

“It takes a lot to be a passionate fan, and our fanbase is passionate and global,” he said, before admitting, “I never wanted to go out there just for the sake of going out there.

“I’m gonna be 47 this year. I feel great…but I know what it takes to be a WWE performer night in and night out, and I don’t ever wanna just go out there and do it to do it,” Cena continued. “I wanna have the passion—the same passion as the fanbase—and I wanna give them exactly what they give me.”

Part of his decision is also based on preserving himself. “Even coming back [to the WWE] for these one-at-a-time things or short three-month periods, it takes its toll more and more,” Cena said. “I’ve just had an incredibly fortunate run with my health. I feel great. I just want to continue to feel great the rest of my life.”

Even after his retirement, though, Cena isn’t planning to completely abandon the sport that made him. Much like his former rival, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who has returned to the WWE now and then, Cena sees himself returning to capitalize on fan enthusiasm. “[I’ve] had at least one match every year in WWE for the past 23 years,” he noted. “I’ve never missed a year, and as long as I can perform, I don’t intend to miss a year.”