WWE and retirement don’t really go hand in hand, as most superstars keep returning to the company for either a big event segment, a one-off match, or, in some cases, entire storylines which last months. WWE Hall of Famers such as Ric Flair, Stevie Austin, Mick Foley, and Goldberg are just some of the names who have come back after a long absence, and the anticipation of who is going to walk out of that curtain is half the charm of the entire show. John Cena, who is right now in the middle of his farewell tour with the company, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, WWE superstars of all time, and no one really expects him to completely hang up his wrestling gear at the end of this year. However, in recent interviews, where Cena isn’t playing his character from WWE, he revealed that this year truly is the end of the line for him as a wrestler.
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John Cena made an appearance on the Late Show and told Stephen Colbert how even though WWE wrestlers never truly retire, he is planning to change that trend. Talking about his last dance with the company, he said, “We are already halfway through the farewell tour. It’s been pretty incredible, and I think we are getting now to a point that audiences are understanding that I will be done in December. There is no realism with professional wrestling and retirement, but I will absolutely be done by the end of the year.”
He jokingly added, “I am 48, and I am just not as enthusiastic as I used to be. The experience has been great because each arena is different. Some audiences like me, some don’t, and some even hate me, but it’s great.”
‘I think it is time for me to step aside and let the young talent step forward’
John Cena told the Good Morning Show that the reason behind his retirement is also his own health and wellness and how an athlete instantly knows when they are going a step slower. “It was just a battle with myself of how long I could ignore those red flags until it just became counterproductive. I still look good, and I feel good, but I think it is time for me to step aside and let the young talent step forward.” Cena admitted that audiences didn’t really believe that he was actually going to retire, but now that they have, the experience is “electrifying”.
John Cena will next be seen taking on CM Punk at the Night of Champions on June 28. The two men will be facing off for the WWE undisputed championship, which Cena won back at WrestleMania 41 and has successfully defended till now. The event will be taking place in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi and will be streaming live on Netflix on June 28 at 11:30 pm.
