John Cena has announced his retirement from WWE, ending a remarkable 23-year journey in professional wrestling.

John Cena ended his in-ring career on December 13, following his final match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington, DC. 

Cena, a 17-time world champion, succumbed to a sleeper hold after a 24-minute match with Gunther. This resulted in mixed reactions and contributed to Gunther's standing in the sport. 

Cena initially announced plans to reduce his active WWE schedule during the July 2024 Money in the Bank premium live event, indicating that 2025 would be his last year as an active in-ring competitor. He then participated in a farewell tour. Cena was among a group of WWE Superstars, including Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, who gained popularity in Saudi Arabia and were considered figures in American sports, entertainment, and culture. 

Cena's career began in November 1999 and he signed with WWE in 2001. His first televised WWE match was against Kurt Angle on the June 27, 2002 episode of SmackDown. 

Cena was introduced to the WWE audience when he responded to Angle's challenge and introduced himself as "brutal aggression". 

At WrestleMania 20 in 2004, Cena defeated The Big Show at Madison Square Garden to win the US Championship. 

In 2005, at WrestleMania 21, Cena defeated John Bradshaw Layfield to win his first WWE Championship. 

Cena is a ten-time Slammy Award winner and has headlined WrestleMania six times. He has 17 WWE World Championship wins (14 WWE Championships, three World Heavyweight Championships). 

Cena is a two-time Royal Rumble winner (2008, 2013) and a one-time Money in the Bank winner (2012). He won the US Championship five times, the Intercontinental Championship once, the WWE Tag Team Championship twice with The Miz and David Otunga, and the World Tag Team Championship twice with Dave Batista and Shawn Michaels. 

Cena has been a prominent figure in WWE for over two decades. Around 2017, he transitioned to a part-time program for acting. He holds the record for most wishes granted for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with more than 650 wishes granted. In 2005, he released the album "You Can't See Me", which reached number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart. 

Cena has starred in films such as "Trainwreck", "Blockers", "Bumblebee", "F9" and "The Suicide Squad" and the HBO Max series "Peacemaker".

John Cena

Real name: John Felix Anthony Cena

Born: April 23, 1977 (age 48) West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.

Occupations: Actor

professional: wrestler

Years active: 1999–2025 (wrestler) 2004–2005; 2014 (rapper), 2006–present (actor)

Ring name(s): John Cena, Juan Cena, The Prototype, Mr. P

Debut: November 5, 1999 and WWE television debut on June 27, 2002

Retired: December 13, 2025