John Cena announced his retirement from in-ring WWE competition mainly because he feels his body and abilities are no longer at the level the current product demands.
Physical limits and age
Cena has said he is “physically at [his] end” after more than two decades of wrestling, noting that the wear and tear means he cannot perform the way he once did. At 48, he points to slower speed and reduced strength, and he believes pushing himself as a full-time performer would hurt both his own performance and that of his opponents.
Promise to fans
He has repeatedly mentioned a long-standing promise to the audience that he would step away once he felt he had “lost a step.” Cena has emphasized that he does not want fans to ever feel cheated by paying to see him if he can no longer deliver at the standard they expect.
Letting new stars shine
Cena says WWE now has many top talents and that it is time for them to take the spotlight rather than have him linger past his peak. He views retiring at the end of his farewell run as a way to respect both the locker room and the evolution of the product.
Life and career after WWE
Although he is retiring from wrestling matches, Cena has said he plans to remain part of the “WWE family” in other roles for the long term. He is also focusing more on his acting and media projects, with multiple films and series lined up as he transitions away from in-ring competition.
