Mark Henry Revisits His Iconic ‘Retirement’ Segment with John Cena from 2013

Mark Henry shocked the WWE Universe when he faked his retirement in June 2013, turning it into one of the best moments in wrestling history.

Mark Henry Revisits His Iconic ‘Retirement’ Segment with John Cena from 2013

Mark Henry and John Cena (via WWE)

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One hallmark of every great wrestling character is the ability to captivate and manipulate the audience, and few have done it as masterfully as Mark Henry. In 2013, the former World Heavyweight Champion delivered an unforgettable in-ring retirement segment that had fans, fellow wrestlers, and even his own wife completely convinced, only for Henry to reveal it was all a ruse. 

The moment remains one of the most memorable swerves in WWE history. For context, Henry appeared on Monday Night Raw in June 2013, following months of speculation about his retirement after more than two decades in the business. Sporting a salmon blazer, he made a jubilant entrance to find John Cena already in the ring. 

What followed was a seemingly heartfelt retirement promo, which ended with a shocking attack on Cena, launching a new storyline and revealing that the retirement talk had been a setup all along. The promo was so convincing that fans truly believed Henry was leaving WWE, adding significant heat to one of his final title programs.

In a recent interview with Isiah Madrigal, ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ revisited the iconic segment and reflected on its legacy. Despite the impactful storyline, it didn’t lead to a second WWE title reign. The attack on Cena eventually led to a Money in the Bank title match, where Cena successfully retained his championship. 

I really did wanna retire. And Vince McMahon talked me out of retirement. He said, ‘Listen, you’ve been telling everybody that you’re gonna retire for almost a year, let’s just keep it going, you retire, and let it be a real retirement, I want you to really get into it,’ and that’s what happened. That was my real retirement speech.

Mark Henry via Isiah Madrigal YouTube Channel

Adding to the shock factor, Henry had genuinely planned to retire in 2013 due to a string of injuries. The segment was kept a secret from almost everyone, and Cena only learned the details moments before going live. He also addressed why he didn’t go over Cena at Money in the Bank.

A lot of people were mad at WWE because… I did not take the opportunity to win the title and run with it. At that time, I was very injured.

Mark Henry via Isiah Madrigal YouTube Channel

The promo has since become one of the defining moments of Henry’s career. He revealed that the segment was the product of nine months of careful planning, which gave it its genuine and powerful impact. 

Henry explained that Cena’s tears during the segment were real, as he believed Henry was truly leaving. The WWE Hall of Famer previously added that the moment where Cena tried to hand him the WWE title, telling him he had earned it, was completely unscripted and authentic.

Mark Henry reflects on winning the World Heavyweight title back in 2011

Mark Henry made his WWE debut on the March 11, 1996 episode of Raw at just 24 years old. Fresh off competing in the 1996 Olympics, he was signed to a massive 10-year contract, with the company placing high hopes on his potential. However, the early years didn’t go as planned, as Henry was primarily featured in mid-card and lower mid-card segments.

Mark Henry as the World Heavyweight Champion
Mark Henry as the World Heavyweight Champion (via WWE)

Fans saw him involved in an intimate storyline with Mae Young and later joining The Nation of Domination alongside The Rock and Ron Simmons. It wasn’t until 2011 that Henry’s character truly found its footing with the introduction of the legendary ‘Hall of Pain’ persona. 

This reinvention finally propelled him to the top of the card, culminating in a World Heavyweight Championship win after more than 15 years with WWE. At the 2011 Night of Champions pay-per-view, Henry defeated Randy Orton to claim the title in what is still regarded as one of the greatest championship victories of all time. 

Although he lost the belt to The Big Show three months later at TLC, the reign remains fondly remembered even in 2025. In the same interview with Isiah Madrigal, Henry reflected on what finally winning the title meant to him. 

I felt like the fans got served when I won. Because it wasn’t just about me, it was about giving the fans what they really thought… because there were times where I got beat and the crowd would boo. And I was the bad guy!

Mark Henry via Isiah Madrigal YouTube Channel

Henry also spoke about how his perspective on fans changed after retiring. Early in his career, he was so immersed in his character that he avoided autograph signings and conventions, keeping himself distant from fans. Since retiring, he has embraced these opportunities, attending Comic-Cons and signings, meeting thousands of fans, and connecting with them personally.

That’s the kind of love I get from fans, and there was a time that I didn’t, and I hate that I missed out on all that time.

Mark Henry via Isiah Madrigal YouTube Channel

He shared that fans have expressed how much his words and advice on the Busted Open podcast have meant to them, some even jokingly asking him to officiate weddings, highlighting the lasting impact he has had beyond the ring.

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