John Cena Puts Rumors to Rest: No More Wrestling After December 13 Farewell

In what will be his swansong after a 23-year WWE career, John Cena clarifies that he would never return to in-ring action after December 13th 2025.

John Cena Puts Rumors to Rest: No More Wrestling After December 13 Farewell

John Cena (via WWE)

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John Cena’s legendary 23-year run in WWE is approaching its final chapter, with his farewell match officially set for December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event inside Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena. After 17 world championships and iconic rivalries, the franchise player is preparing to hang up his sneakers for good. 

And with how unpredictable and emotional his retirement tour has been, the ride to the finish has felt nothing short of cinematic. But as every wrestling fan knows, in this business, retirement rarely lasts forever. 

For instance, Ric Flair’s tearful WrestleMania 24 farewell was immortalized by an all-time classic with Shawn Michaels, only for Flair to return two years later in TNA and then wrestle again in 2022 at age 73. 

Meanwhile, HBK himself broke his perfect 2010 retirement for a one-night-only tag team match at Crown Jewel 2018, a match many would prefer to erase from memory. Because of these famous walk-backs, fans have endlessly speculated about whether Cena’s goodbye will really be a goodbye. 

Moreover, with WrestleMania 42 looming and WrestleMania 43 already confirmed for Saudi Arabia in 2027, chatter of a future comeback has only grown louder. But Cena himself has now slammed the door shut.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night, Cena doubled down with absolute clarity that his upcoming bout on 13th December will indeed be his swansong. 

23 years of performing in WWE, and we are down to our last date. I announced this about 15 months in advance that I am going to retire. WWE Superstars do not necessarily retire; they often find one more match. I am absolutely 100 per cent done. The 13th of December on Peacock is my last in-ring performance.

John Cena via Jimmy Kimmel Live

Cena also revealed that he announced his retirement more than a year in advance to give the WWE Universe the proper farewell tour he felt they deserved after supporting him since 2002. He stressed that his match in the nation’s capital is not a tease or a setup for a future comeback. This is the real finish line, and he hopes the audience embraces it as his true final bow.

Additionally, the 17-time champion also shared that he expects the match to headline the SNME card. The event will include additional main roster vs. NXT showcase matches, a concept Cena himself pitched to shine a brighter spotlight on the company’s up-and-coming generation.

Throughout his retirement year, Cena has put together a remarkable streak: 17 matches across 11 Premium Live Events and six televised bouts, including the May 24 Saturday Night’s Main Event TV special. 

His farewell run has sent him across the ring from some of the biggest names of the modern era, including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, R-Truth, CM Punk, Logan Paul, Sami Zayn, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles, and Dominik Mysterio, a final resume of giants befitting one of the greatest of all time.

John Cena and WWE hit with lawsuit over ‘My Time Is Now’ theme ahead of final match

As already discussed, John Cena will officially retire from in-ring competition on December 13, and his final opponent will be determined this Friday on SmackDown. The Last Time Is Now tournament concludes on the show, with LA Knight and Gunther set to collide in the finals. 

John Cena
John Cena (via WWE)

But as Cena prepares for the biggest week of his retirement tour, things have suddenly become more complicated. Cena and WWE have both been named in a new lawsuit regarding his iconic entrance theme, ‘My Time Is Now.’ 

According to Post Wrestling, a federal lawsuit filed this week alleges that the song contains an unlicensed sample, specifically, the recognizable horn arrangement originally written by composer Pete Schofield.

The lawsuit, filed by Schofield’s daughter, claims that WWE used the horn arrangement without proper permission. She states that she previously reached a written settlement with WWE in 2017, receiving a one-time $50,000 payment. However, she now argues that the company intentionally withheld key information to get her to sign that deal.

The detail allegedly hidden from her was the use of the horn arrangement in a national Toyota commercial, which aired just two days after the settlement was signed. The lawsuit seeks to void the original settlement entirely.

For the unversed, Cena has used the ‘My Time Is Now’ theme since March 2005, with the song featuring his own vocals and released as part of his album in the same year. With his retirement match just days away, Cena finds himself preparing not only for his final entrance, but also for a fresh legal battle tied to the very music that has defined his career for nearly two decades.

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