In the final week of John Cena’s legendary 20+ year career, WWE released what may be the most revealing and emotionally rich interview of his life. Sitting across from award-winning journalist Tom Rinaldi, Cena reflected on his legacy, his darkest regrets, the evolution of his moral compass, the woman who keeps him grounded, and the reality of stepping away from the ring forever.
With his final match set for this Saturday at Saturday Night’s Main Event against GUNTHER, the winner of the Last Time Is Now Tournament, Cena used this long-form conversation to clarify how he wants the world to understand his exit—and what comes next.
This wasn’t a hype piece. This was John Cena writing the final chapter of his story in his own words.
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“Her and that’s it”: Cena on whose approval matters now
When asked whose opinion truly shapes his decisions at this stage of life, Cena’s answer was immediate: his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh.
Gone are the days when he measured himself by audience reaction or locker-room validation. Cena says he and Shay live life as a “three-legged race,” moving in sync and making every major decision together. outlets such as PEOPLE highlighted this segment, emphasizing how sharply Cena’s personal priorities have shifted since the peak of his WWE fame.
It is one of the clearest windows into why Cena is ready to leave the ring behind—because his life outside of WWE finally feels complete.
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From childhood mistakes to career-defining heel turns
Cena recounts a painful childhood moment where he joined classmates in bullying another student, only to be confronted by a school official who asked him a single life-changing question:
“Why did you feel the need to do that?”
Cena says this taught him the danger of abandoning his own moral compass to seek approval from others—a lesson that resurfaced throughout his WWE career, including his final on-screen heel run when he pursued a 17th world title.
He reflects on how that storyline mirrored real emotional truths: moments in life when he sacrificed who he was just to fit a narrative, and how important it was for him to finish his career aligned with his authentic self.
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“It’s not my time to perform anymore”: Cena explains why he’s truly retiring
Cena is unequivocal: this is his final match. There is no swerve coming.
As covered by ClutchPoints and TJR Wrestling, Cena says he is retiring because he can no longer deliver WWE’s current in-ring standard at the level he believes fans deserve. The pace, the schedule, the physical demand—he simply cannot maintain the version of John Cena people expect.
Rather than stick around for nostalgia pop appearances or diminished performances, Cena is choosing to leave on his terms, while his body and reputation remain intact.
This is not a storyline retirement. This is real.
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Cena confirms 5-year WWE ambassador deal—his “second mountain”
The interview’s biggest news comes late: Cena has already signed a new five-year deal with WWE, transitioning into a full-time brand ambassador role.
“I will be an ambassador to WWE. I’m already signed on for another five years,” he tells Rinaldi.
Cena explains that he requested to stay with the company in a non-wrestling capacity so he can:
• Bring new audiences to WWE
• Help mentor rising stars
• Guide talent toward authentic personas that resonate
• Serve as an internal cultural leader for the generation that follows him
He calls this phase his “second mountain,” a chance to build something lasting beyond what he created inside the ropes.
For fans worried that Cena would vanish into Hollywood after retiring, this announcement is the opposite: he is more committed to WWE than ever.
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Cena reveals his original plan: a 200+ day goodbye tour
In a companion interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Cena revealed something astonishing—he originally pitched a 220-day farewell schedule, essentially a full-time WWE run in 2025, to properly connect with fans one last time.
But between film shoots in Budapest, Morocco, and the U.S., and the punishing travel schedule, he quickly realized the idea was impossible. This year’s roughly 36 appearances and 17 matches were a carefully balanced compromise. His 18th match—the final one—happens Saturday night.
The revelation adds emotional weight to this entire farewell year: Cena wanted to give everything but had to accept his limitations for the first time in his career.
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Respect for GUNTHER and the Last Time Is Now Tournament
The Rinaldi interview arrives days before Cena meets GUNTHER, who emerged victorious from the Last Time Is Now Tournament, a cross-brand, multi-week gauntlet involving top talent from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT.
GUNTHER’s triumph over names like Je’Von Evans, Carmelo Hayes, Solo Sikoa, and LA Knight established him as the clear successor to Cena’s “workhorse standard.”
Cena publicly expressed admiration for GUNTHER, acknowledging that he wanted his final match to be against someone who had earned the moment.
The symbolism is unmistakable: Cena is passing the torch to a man defined by discipline, excellence, and physical domination—the modern evolution of everything Cena once represented.
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Why this interview will be remembered
For two decades, Cena was WWE’s moral center, its franchise player, and its corporate face. But the man seated across from Tom Rinaldi was older, wiser, and more vulnerable than we have ever seen him.
This interview matters because it captures:
• A man making peace with the end
• A performer refusing to betray his standards
• A husband guided by partnership
• A leader embracing mentorship
• A legend who knows exactly why his career meant something—and why it has to end now
Cena’s last match is this Saturday. But his presence in WWE will continue, reshaped, recalibrated, and refocused.
The Last Time Is Now—and the next chapter begins the moment the bell rings.
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