John Cena reveals why December 13 Is His Final WWE Match, the Retirement Tour, and Life After Wrestling
In a wide-ranging interview with Chris Van Vliet, John Cena reflected honestly on a huge year: the planning behind his announced retirement tour, the meaning of winning the 17th world title, the big matches with Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles, his controversial heel run, and what life will look like after his final match on December 13, 2025.
He also spoke about the physical toll of wrestling, insurance and scheduling for his outside work, and how marriage has changed him. Here’s everything he said — in simple words and easy-to-read sections.
John Cena on retirement plan: how it began and why it’s happening
John says the retirement tour was years in the making. He began planning around 2022, with about three years of preparation from idea to execution. Cena explained the challenge of balancing wrestling dates with a busy film schedule and expensive insurance for stunts and action work. He and his team pitched the idea to TKO and WWE with a clear offer: he would “bet on himself,” take fewer activities, and focus on making this final year meaningful for fans and the company.
Cena wanted to give the company something constructive — not just a farewell special — and to use his last run to highlight future stars.
“I want to give NXT kids a chance… to show the future of the business.”
John Cena on December 13: the last in-ring performance
Cena is firm: Saturday Night’s Main Event December 13, 2025 is the end of his WWE in-ring career. He wants that night to be forward-looking, not only a tribute to him. He asked that the special include non-canon exhibition matches to give rising stars a chance to be seen and give the live crowd big entrances and moments.
He confirmed his last match will be his final wrestling performance — “I’m not doing anything after that” — and asked fans to accept that and get closure.
John Cena’s Final Opponent: Gunther
After months of speculation, it is now confirmed that John Cena’s final opponent will be Gunther. If Cena is closing his legendary career with one last match, then Gunther is the perfect choice: a dominant, hard-hitting powerhouse who represents the next era of WWE.
This matchup symbolizes exactly what Cena talked about throughout the interview — passing the torch forward, elevating new stars, and giving fans a glimpse of the future. Gunther is one of the most complete performers of this generation, and facing Cena on December 13 is not just a main-event opportunity — it’s a career-defining moment.
For Cena, the match isn’t about “going out on top.” It’s about giving everything he has left and helping build the next great champion. For Gunther, it’s a chance to stand across from one of the greatest ever and prove that WWE’s future is in powerful, capable hands.
December 13 will be more than a farewell — it will be a historic passing of the torch.
What the final match might look like for John Cena
Cena hasn’t locked in an opponent, so he’s focused on a short, clear story: define why these two are fighting and let action do the rest. He says the match build will be swift — promos and a quick reason for the match — and that the night should highlight new talent rather than be purely a John Cena showcase.
How he sold the idea internally
Cena outlined two options he gave WWE: keep going full-speed, or make this a dedicated last year and let him focus on making memorable moments. He chose the latter and says everyone internally supported the idea. The result was a year of shows that drew strong reactions — positive and negative — but most important to him was reducing apathy and getting fans invested.
John Cena’s heel turn: intent, style and limits
Cena explained his heel turn strategy: it was meant to hurt the fans in a way that mattered — to take away the fun and make people want the fun back. He described the heel run as purposeful, even experimental, and said he intentionally used a more methodical style for story reasons. He also explained why he kept certain elements (like his theme music): time was limited, and changing everything would have confused audiences and taken years to reset.
He admits he tried many things, that he may have missed sometimes, but that he gave it his all.
John Cenas Big matches of the year — Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles
Brock Lesnar
Cena talked about the short, violent match with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza 2025. Lesnar’s return night was designed to put Brock in the spotlight, and Cena accepted that he would play the foil. Cena said the match was about building Brock, not him and that sometimes the main event is about one return star getting his shine.
AJ Styles
The match with AJ was a dream culmination of the year’s storylines. Cena described the match as “pure fun,” and revealed the surprise intro he arranged for AJ (a heartfelt moment) a creative choice he admitted he should have cleared with the production team first. The moment was special, emotional, and a highlight of the year.
The 17th world title and the Intercontinental run
Winning the 17th world title at WrestleMania had emotional meaning: Cena wanted to pass a torch someday and shake the hand of whoever wins the 18th. He also spoke warmly about his Intercontinental run: he treated that secondary title like a major objective and used it to give new life to the belt and spotlight young talent like Dom (Dom Mysterio).
How the year affected his body and schedule
Cena wrestled more this year than any year since 2018, 18 matches in 2025 and admits his body is tired. He described the long recovery times, careful prep, and the constant worry about injury. Despite that, he says he only performs moves he knows he can do safely and practices them until he’s confident.
John Cena on Choosing opponents and “what could have been”
Cena repeatedly said he did not pick his opponents; creative decisions were often out of his hands. He’s grateful for the opponents he did get — Cody, Randy, AJ, Punk, Logan, Dom, Sammy and others but acknowledged the sadness of matches that will never happen. Still, he trusts the company’s choices and said he didn’t want to selfishly pick opponents if it wasn’t right for the business.
Why he’s leaving: timing and legacy
Cena made it clear he doesn’t want to overstay physically. He and peers like AJ Styles have noted that late 40s change recovery and performance, and Cena doesn’t want to stay too long and produce subpar matches. He wants to walk away while he still feels he can deliver. He also emphasized that wrestling is not his whole identity — he wants to be a husband, explore music, travel, and try other things.
“I am a suit and tie performer after the 13th. Period.”
John Cena’s Personal life: marriage, balance and gratitude
Cena credited marriage with Shay Shariatzadeh changing him for the better. He described learning to slow down, to connect, and to share life. He praised his wife for being a true partner who traveled with him and helped with ideas and perspective. Cena listed three things he’s grateful for right now: love and connection, his health, and the many people who helped him (from stars to crew).
Favorite moments and people this year
Cena named a few standouts:
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CM Punk — “my wrestling soulmate,” and the Saudi pre-show moment with Punk was a deeply emotional high point for him.
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Brock Lesnar — “a once-in-a-generation athlete.”
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AJ Styles — among the best ever, making hard things look seamless.
He also praised many colleagues, called Rey Mysterio a mentor, and said the year minimized apathy — people cared and talked, which he values.
The business side: scheduling, insurance and production realities
Behind-the-scenes, Cena explained how costly and complex scheduling can be: insurance for action work is expensive and studios are hesitant to let big action stars risk injury. That reality shaped the timeline for his retirement tour and outside projects. He also explained the long lead time required for merchandise and uniforms — which is why the tour was planned well in advance.
What life John Cena looks like after Dec 13,2025
Cena was upbeat. He plans to keep working professionally in non-wrestling roles (acting, producing), but he’ll no longer perform in WWE. He said wrestling made him who he is, but it is not all of who he is. He’s ready to pursue other passions, be a better husband, learn instruments, and see the world beyond arenas and airports.
Closing: legacy, gratitude and a clear goodbye
Cena repeated that he wants the final show to spotlight the future of wrestling, not only be a salute to his past. He’s grateful for the chance to design a farewell that elevates others and hopes fans will accept the closure on Dec 13. Above all, Cena emphasized gratitude: for fans, colleagues, crew, and his family.
“When you see me hold it up, I am holding it for real… Every single thing I do is with whole of heart.”
FAQs on John Cena’s Final Interview & Retirement Match
1. When is John Cena’s final WWE match?
John Cena’s final in-ring match will take place on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cena confirmed he will fully retire from wrestling after this date.
2. Who is John Cena’s final opponent?
John Cena’s final opponent is Gunther, one of WWE’s most dominant modern stars. Their match represents a symbolic passing of the torch to WWE’s next generation.
3. Why is John Cena retiring in 2025?
Cena explained on Chris Van Vliet interview that age, scheduling, and physical recovery played major roles in his decision. He wants to step away while he can still perform at a high level and help elevate future stars.
4. How long was John Cena planning his retirement tour?
According to Cena, the retirement tour was planned for almost three years, starting in 2022, with coordination between WWE, TKO, and film studios because of insurance and scheduling challenges.
5. What did Cena say about his heel turn?
Cena revealed that the heel turn was designed to remove the “fun” from wrestling on purpose, making fans emotionally invested in the storyline and helping build Cody Rhodes’ journey.
6. Which match from 2025 meant the most to Cena?
Cena spoke emotionally about his match and pre-show moment with CM Punk in Saudi Arabia, calling Punk his “wrestling soulmate”. He also highlighted the AJ Styles match as pure fun and story-driven.
7. Did Cena choose his opponents during the retirement tour?
No. Cena confirmed he did not pick any opponents. WWE creative decided the matchups, and Cena focused on delivering the best possible performances.
8. Will John Cena ever wrestle again after 2025?
Cena stated clearly: No.
He said he will never return for another match, not even at WrestleMania. After December 13, 2025, he becomes a “suit and tie” performer only.
9. What does Cena plan to do after retiring?
Cena plans to continue working in Hollywood, focus on personal life, travel, learn new hobbies like piano, and spend more quality time with his family.
10.Who is John Cena’s wife?
John Cena is married to Shay Shariatzadeh, a Canadian engineer and product manager. They met in 2019 and married in 2020. Cena has often said that Shay has played a big role in bringing balance to his life, supporting him throughout his 2025 retirement tour, and helping him stay grounded outside the ring.
11. Where can fans watch Cena’s final match?
John Cena’s final match will stream globally on Peacock and Netflix (international) as part of Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Final Thoughts
John Cena’s interview with Chris Van Vliet wasn’t just another sit-down conversation — it felt like the final chapter of a 20+ year story finally being read aloud. Cena has always been honest with fans, but this time he opened the door wider than ever. He talked about fear, pressure, age, gratitude, creativity, and the emotional weight of closing a career that defined his adult life.
More than anything, Cena wants fans to understand one message clearly: he’s not leaving because he wants to — he’s leaving because his body and his responsibilities have made the choice for him. And instead of making his last year all about himself, he chose to shine the spotlight on the next generation. That alone says everything about the kind of performer and person he is.
Whether you loved the heel run, debated the booking, or cheered every match of the 2025 retirement tour, Cena’s intention was always the same: give the audience something memorable. He leaves behind a blueprint for how a retirement tour should be done — with honesty, purpose, fun, and a genuine desire to elevate others.
On December 13, 2025, the final bell will ring for John Cena inside a WWE ring. But the impact of his work — his matches, promos, charity efforts, leadership, and the values he carried will last far beyond one night. Cena often says he gave everything he had. After hearing this full interview, it’s clear: he truly did.
The end of an era is here, but the legacy is forever.
If you want to know more about Chris Van Vliet interview Daniel Bryan please click here
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