WWE megastar John Cena makes his approaching career end official at Money in the Bank: he will step into the ring for the last time in 2025
He had been telling his fans for some time, but now the cat is officially out of the bag: wrestling icon John Cena has announced the imminent end of his career.
In an unannounced appearance at the big Money in the Bank event in Toronto on Sunday night, the record-breaking WWE champion told fans in a lengthy speech that he would be retiring from the ring at the end of next year: 2025 will be his last year as an active wrestler in WWE.
WWE Money in the Bank: John Cena retires in 2025
The 16-time WWE and World Champion was the biggest star in WWE for many years and the money-printing machine par excellence. The Show Fighting Empire calls Cena the “GOAT” by default, the greatest of all time – from the point of view of those in charge, also greater than Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the Undertaker.
Like his colleague and former rival Johnson, Cena is now a full-time Hollywood actor, but he still appears in the ring for WWE at irregular intervals. Cena already hinted a few months ago that this would come to an end in the near future. Now the timetable is also clear: his time as a WWE fighter will end in 2025 after 23 years
In a variation of his standard catchphrase, Cena concluded: “If you want some, hurry up and come get some. Because the last time is now.” At the press conference after the show, Cena made it clear that he wants to complete around “30 to 40 dates” by the end of the calendar year 2025, and has already been announced for the Royal Rumble, No Escape (Elimination Chamber) and the annual highlight WrestleMania.
An exciting question will be whether Cena will reach for another major title during this time in order to surpass the legendary 16-title record of the icon Ric Flair.
Solo Sikoa pins Cody Rhodes
Cena last had a lengthy interlude with WWE last fall – aided by the writers’ strike in the film industry – at the Saudi Arabia Crown Jewel event, WWE pitted him against the up-and-coming Solo Sikoa and had the latter win in dominant fashion.
Sikoa now took center stage at Money in the Bank as well: In a six-man tag team match, the new Sikoa-led Bloodline defeated WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Cena’s old arch-rival Randy Orton.
Sikoa, with the help of his new enforcer Jacob Fatu, pinned Rhodes with his Samoan Spike finisher to put himself in position for a WWE title match – the summer highlight of SummerSlam on August 4 at Cleveland’s NFL Stadium looms large.
Drew McIntyre’s cash-in goes awry because of CM Punk
The winners of the titular Money-in-the-Bank ladder matches were top talent Tiffany Stratton and Drew McIntyrre.
McIntyre – as announced on Monday’s RAW – immediately cashed in his right to a World Title match at any point over the next 365 days, making a Triple Threat Match out of the later-scheduled title match between World Champ Damian Priest and former titleholder Seth Rollins.
McIntyre’s plan to exact revenge for Priest’s cash-in at WrestleMania was foiled by CM Punk, however, who once again spoiled the Scotsman’s tour with an attack – who, according to the story, was responsible for extending Punk’s injury layoff – and ensured that Priest retained the title, which Punk then took a look at himself. McIntyre is now rid of the Money in the Bank briefcase, having officially cashed it in before Punk intervened.
After the match, Punk and Rollins also got into an argument, with Punk’s actions costing him the title. Priest will face Austrian phenom Gunther, the winner of the King of the Ring tournament, at SummerSlam.
In another match, Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defended his title against young star Bron Breakker. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner – recently ennobled by former megastar Hulk Hogan as a potential heir to himself and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – will have to wait for his first main roster title for the time being
