“Retirement Isn’t the End—It’s the Next Climb”: John Cena Opens Up About Life After WWE and What Comes Next
John Cena may be done stepping into a WWE ring, but don’t mistake retirement for slowing down. After wrestling the final match of his legendary career, the 17-time World Champion is already looking ahead—and his next chapter sounds just as intentional as anything he’s done inside the squared circle.
Cena recently revealed his post-WWE plans during an appearance on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, and the message was clear: retirement isn’t an ending—it’s just a new hill to climb.
A New Role, Not a Goodbye
While Cena has officially closed the book on his in-ring career, he’s far from walking away from WWE altogether. He has signed a multi-year deal as a WWE ambassador, keeping him connected to the company while allowing him to shift his focus toward personal priorities that wrestling often forced him to put on hold.
And at the top of that list? Health, family, and being fully present.
Health Comes First—Literally
In a refreshingly honest moment, Cena shared that his immediate future involves dealing with some lingering health issues—specifically dental surgery.
“I’ve always been somebody to wait for life to deal you what it’s going to,” Cena explained. “Life will deal you a hill. So what is immediately next for me? I’ve got to get my third run on an implant. I’ve lost three of them, and I just lost another one. Life did it.”
The surgery, he noted, was scheduled just days after the podcast recording—a reminder that even superheroes have real-world problems to handle.
Family Time, No Distractions
Once the medical work is done, Cena plans to do something he admits he hasn’t done enough of over the years: unplug and truly be there for the people he loves.
He revealed plans to spend uninterrupted time with his family—first seven days with one side, then ten days with another—without hiding behind the excuse of being “too busy working.”
His approach is simple but powerful: less screen time, more listening, and genuine connection.
“Be present with curiosity and purpose,” Cena said. “Actively listen. Ask about folks. Be genuine.”
He even touched on understanding when loved ones want advice versus when they just want to be heard—something he admitted he’s still learning after years on the road.
One Hill at a Time
Cena didn’t map out a long-term master plan, and that’s exactly how he likes it. Instead of obsessing over what comes next, he’s choosing to handle life as it arrives.
“After that, whatever hill I have next… then I’ll see, man,” he said.
It’s a mindset that feels fitting for a man whose entire career was built on resilience, adaptability, and showing up no matter the odds.
The Final Match
Cena’s retirement became official last weekend at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he tapped out to GUNTHER in a hard-hitting, emotional farewell bout. It wasn’t a fairytale ending—but it was honest, meaningful, and very John Cena.
And if his words are any indication, retirement isn’t the end of his story. It’s just the start of a different climb.
