John Cena discusses emotional and physical struggles before WWE retirement, announcing that his departure from wrestling will take place in 2025, a decision publicly disclosed at the WWE Money in the Bank Premium Live Event. Speaking openly on Stephanie’s Places, Cena shed light on how both physical exhaustion and personal reflection influenced this significant life change.
Cena Confronts Changes in His Training Routine
As the date of his WWE retirement approaches, Cena revealed that time spent in his personal gym, previously a source of encouragement, has become a daily reminder of physical limitations he can no longer overcome. Photographs of old achievements and records, like heavy lifts and major milestones, now make him acutely aware of his changing capabilities. This realization has forced him to confront a challenging truth about his athletic journey.
“By continuously coming here [to his personal gym] and being disappointed and then asking myself the question of this place usually makes me feel good, ‘Why do I feel bad?’ And it was because I’m surrounded by pictures, by numbers. That’s a 600-lb squat, or that’s a cleaning jerk with 330-lb, or that’s a 300-lb snatch. I can’t even do those lifts anymore because my body’s so beat up. So as soon as I got through that jagged pill of like, ‘Oh man, I am never gonna overhead press 374 pounds ever again, but let’s work to see what the best I can for today is.’ You know it’s it it’s a very similar course to WWE.”
-John Cena
Struggles in the Ring and at Home
Cena drew parallels between his declining strength in the gym and the regression he experiences as a performer in the ring. These limitations not only shape his professional outlook, but also affect his personal life and relationships. He acknowledged that the relentless pace and demands of his career would inevitably take a toll, not just physically but emotionally, challenging both his well-being and that of his partner.
“My skills are on regress. If I continue at a full-time physical capability or involvement, I’m not going to run right, and my partner is not going to run right, and our relationship isn’t going to run right. ‘Sorry, kid. It’s time. It’s time to close this chapter.’ I wish I was 18. I wish I felt great because I don’t feel more at home besides in in the arms of my wife than I do on a campus. I had to pitch this idea, a real wrestling farewell and hoping that they would see the business in it and they were like, ‘Uh yes, this is this is going to be good.’”
-John Cena
Cena’s Legacy and the Path Forward
By candidly articulating the difficulties both physical and emotional, Cena has offered insight into the pressures superstars like himself face when balancing career longevity with health and happiness. His remarks reflect a somber yet honest evaluation of leaving a sport that shaped his identity, even as he finds meaning in closing one chapter and preparing for what lies ahead. As his retirement nears, Cena’s story stands as a powerful example to both fans and peers about the realities behind the accolades, and the importance of facing change with honesty and courage.
