Why John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour Could Extend To WrestleMania

Could WWE really be planning John Cena’s retirement match to take place at WrestleMania 42?

John Cena returned to WWE in 2025 with one final year of competing in the ring. Cena shocked the world when he turned heel at Elimination Chamber and then went on to make history by winning his 17th WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41.

Cena has revisited iconic feuds with Randy Orton and CM Punk during his last year in the ring before abandoning his heel turn and losing the WWE Title back to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.

John Cena was then decimated by Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza and got the fans behind his wish to face AJ Styles at Crown Jewel. Time is against Cena, and his final match is still set to take place on December 13th at Saturday Night’s Main Event. But is there a chance that his retirement bout could be pushed back to WrestleMania in 2026?

John Cena Continuing Until WrestleMania 42?

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray explained why he’d be happy if the company pushed Cena’s retirement match to WrestleMania 42, where he could finally get his revenge on Brock Lesnar:

John Cena’s last match at WrestleMania [42] against maybe Brock Lesnar, that’s marquee. If something were to happen where this got extended to Vegas in WrestleMania, personally, I have no problem with that. I don’t think it’s a bait-and-switch. I think it’s just an extension on a contract because I have one piece of unfinished business and that is, okay Brock Lesnar or that is, so and so.

As things stand, John Cena is not set to clash with Brock Lesnar again, and it remains unknown who his final match will be against. Following Crown Jewel, Cena will only have four dates left to complete before his iconic career is brought to an end.