During the 2024 WWE Money In The Bank event, John Cena unexpectedly announced his impending retirement from professional wrestling, set to happen in 2025. He revealed that before he takes his bow, he aims to wrestle in 30-40 matches the following year as part of his retirement tour.
In a later conversation with Maggie & Perloff, AEW’s President, Tony Khan, lauded Cena as one of the greatest modern-era wrestlers. Khan commended Cena’s invaluable contributions to wrestling and entertained the idea of including him in his personal wrestling Mt. Rushmore, saying,
“He would definitely be somebody anybody would have to consider, certainly, especially of the modern era. For me, a lot of the people on my Mount Rushmore are probably people I grew up on. Not only being a fan of, but have gotten to work with later in life. Sting, to me, is up there. It’s a lot of guys I grew up on my Mount Rushmore. Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat and Bret Hart and Steve Austin. I’d have to think about Ric Flair. A lot of great options for that. John Cena is one of the best wrestlers and certainly one of the greatest of this modern era, without a doubt.”
Cena confirmed his participation in the impending Royal Rumble 2025, Elimination Chamber 2025, and WrestleMania 41, marking some of his last appearances. However, he made it clear his final match would not occur at WrestleMania 41, implying he intends to continue wrestling beyond that event.