John Cena Clarifies Retirement Tour Announcement at WWE Money in the Bank

As noted before, Saturday’s WWE Money in the Bank 2024 event at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada featured John Cena making a surprise appearance and announcing he will be holding a retirement tour in 2025. Cena mentioned that next year’s WrestleMania 41 will be the last of his in-ring career leading to the speculation of his retirement match taking place at that event.

Following the show, Cena was among the guests for WWE’s Money in the Bank 2024 post-show press conference, During his portion of the press conference, Cena gave his thoughts about his decision to retire from in-ring wrestling.

“I think the answer is ‘cause it’s not up to me. I approached the WWE with this idea. And they kind of initiated the talks that this would be a great span of time if we’re ever gonna do it.

This is no thanks to me, but the business is at incredible heights of popularity and awareness.”

Cena also clarified his retirement tour comments and stated that he will be wrestling throughout the whole year in 2025 and will be working somewhere between the mid-30s to 40s for the amount of dates.

“Here’s where we give you some of the deets of the farewell tour. It’s not gonna end at WrestleMania [41]. WrestleMania will be my last WrestleMania. But hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, we’re going straight through from January to December. We’re gonna try to go a long list of dates. I think right now tentatively, it’s hovering in the mid-30s to 40s, because I’m still gonna try to juggle a lot of stuff that’s going on. That will be the end of my in-ring completion. Now, part of this business plan that I proposed and I proposed, thank you, they, was me remaining in the WWE family in some capacity for an extended time to come. I’ve always said to the audience that the WWE is my home, and I love it. Just because I physically I feel I’m at my end, doesn’t mean I need to distance myself from something I love. I have passion for this business. I still watch Money in the Bank and yell at the screen and yell at the guys for what they’re doing or what they could be doing, so I still, I feel I have some wisdom locked up here that could be of some value. So I look forward to ending my participation in the ring in the best way that I possibly can and being a member of the extended WWE family for quite some time to come.”

Cena also gave his thoughts about what former WWE Chairman and TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon has meant to his career and how he has processed the sex trafficking and sexual abuse allegations that have come out about McMahon.

“Surely an uncomfortable question, and man, I really would much rather talk about what’s ahead of us, and that’s really important. I’ve been pretty honest with my opinion to answer that question, and if you didn’t see it, I know you can dig it up somewhere. I think we’re on the precipice of something pretty special, and as the business evolves and continues to evolve, damn, it’s in pretty good hands with the TKO folks. So I am happy to be where I’m at. Again, I think if you want that information, you dig hard enough, you can find it. Thank you, though. Appreciate the courage.”

During his portion of the press conference, WWE CEO Paul “Triple H” Levesque gave his thoughts about WWE’s current plans for Cena’s retirement tour.

“He is calling his own shot on how he ends it. Most people don’t get to do that. Most people could do that and then choose not to. I don’t know why that is in our business, but I think that’s the best way.

I think, for an athlete, for a professional, for an artist — for whatever you wanna call and label what we do — to be able to call your shot in and out, to be able to walk out healthy, happy, content, to me that’s where it is. And I’m happy that John’s able to do that. And I think it’s gonna be an exciting 2025. I can’t wait to watch it unfold, but it’s gonna be an incredible year.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1 & 2, PostWrestling.com 1 & 2