He changed the dynamics of wrestling and became even bigger in the media: a one-of-a-kind champion reached the end of his career. And to think that at first he was about to be fired, but then on a bus…
December 13, 2025 will be remembered forever by those who followed WWE and even by those who only heard about it. It is the date of John Cena’s last match, who after entering the ring against Gunther is no longer a wrestler. After 25 years of career, always lived as an absolute protagonist, he decided to retire. The greatest of all time, “The Goat”, the last true champion and much more: these are the names used to define an athlete who managed to become bigger than the WWE itself, as Michael Jordan did with the NBA. Everyone knows who John Cena is, even those who have never seen him in a ring. The true heir to Hulk Hogan, but in a much more complicated era and in a completely different way. But who was John Cena really?
WWE ambassador
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John Cena took WWE all over the world, doing numerous charity campaigns, appearing on an endless series of talk shows, showing a sensational work ethic that no wrestling champion had ever demonstrated. Who remembers him at Sanremo 2006 as a guest of Giorgio Panariello? They were the boom years in Italy and John Cena (along with Undertaker, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero) was also an absolute protagonist of this wave of wrestling.
super dinner
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Beyond the titles, which in a predetermined sport leave their time (John is still a 17-time champion, no one like him), Cena has been loved and hated for more than 20 years, always remaining himself. During the years of his domination, he was detested from a sporting point of view by the most savvy fans, who wanted to see more technical athletes in his place, only to then change their minds when they saw every performance of the champion from West Newbury, capable of elevating every one of his opponents, of keeping the intensity sky-high and of splitting public opinion in half (for his actions in the ring, not outside), remaining a hero without blemish and without fear. Triple H, Edge, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Batista, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero are just some of John’s opponents, who helped make WWE a product for everyone. Grandparents and children, die-hard fans and passionate onlookers: there wouldn’t have been all this without John Cena.
SLIDING DOOR
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John Cena had also been on the verge of getting fired. After just one year on the Main Roster he would be released in the fall of 2003, amid a wave of wrestlers being cut. On what was supposed to be his last European tour he began rapping on the bus, among his colleagues. Stephanie McMahon (daughter of Vince, supporter of the entire WWE world) noticed this and had the brilliant intuition of creating the character of the Boston rapper, who changed Cena’s career. From there, first the leader of Chainang was born, then that of C-Nation, an army of fans “devoted” to the man who changed wrestling.
The LAst dance
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John Cena, almost 12 months ago, announced his retirement from the world of wrestling in a unique way, with 36 dates throughout 2025 making him the character of the year. And he also became “bad” within WWE storylines. A “turn heel” (as they say in the jargon) that fans have wanted for 20 years, but which they have practically rejected. No one wanted to boo John at his “Last Dance.” Once good again, Cena also won the Intercontinental title, the last belt missing from his life. The legacy he leaves is virtually unbridgeable. Even The Rock, who like John for years has been much more present in Hollywood than in the ring, called him “The Goat”. The end of Cena’s career (the last match he lost against Gunther on Saturday Night Main Event) is also the end of the youth of many, who became passionate about wrestling at 10 years old and still are at 35 years old. Always and forever in the name of John Cena.
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