How John Cena Really Feels About His WWE Retirement Tour
John Cena has spoken openly about how he really feels about his WWE retirement tour, which has failed to hit the heights that some fans hoped for.
John Cena’s retirement year began with disappointment at the start of 2025 when Cena was the last man eliminated in the Royal Rumble as Jey Uso claimed a shock win. Cena booked a WWE Title match for WrestleMania by winning the Elimination Chamber. That show saw Cena shock the world when he turned heel and aligned with The Rock and Travis Scott.
At WrestleMania 41, Cena became a 17-time WWE Champion when he beat Rhodes for the gold. A summer of resurrecting old rivalries with the likes of CM Punk and Randy Orton followed, as Cena was also sidetracked with a bizarre feud with R-Truth.
Before Cena got in the ring to defend his WWE Title against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, the whole heel turn was dropped as fans simply wanted to cheer the legendary star as he wound down his career.
John Cena became a Grand Slam Champion when he defeated Dominik Mysterio to capture the Intercontinental Title. Mysterio reclaimed that gold at Survivor Series when Liv Morgan returned to screw John Cena.
Now, Cena will compete for the final time at Saturday Night’s Main Event against Gunther on December 13th. The Ring General has vowed to make Cena tap out in his final match.
John Cena Thinks WWE Has Done Okay With Retirement
Plenty has been said by fans about John Cena’s final run in WWE, with many disappointed at how his long-awaited heel turn played out. But what does the man himself really think about it all?
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, John Cena welcomed the criticism but noted that everyone in WWE is happy about how his retirement tour has gone:
I think I would say everyone internally is happy, and I would say everyone externally has an opinion about it, which is good.
I don’t think out there, here we are in early December, looking forward to the 13th, I don’t think there is apathy out there. I know some people are critical of it, some people may be upset, some people may be overjoyed, but there isn’t apathy, and I think that means we did okay.
(The criticism) is absolutely part of what we do. I love it because it’s vocal and it starts a conversation. I’ve been part of this live criticism pit since WrestleMania Triple H, or fighting Kurt Angle. That’s what people don’t understand, I am criticized all the time.