John Cena wants "to be present" for his final WWE run.
John Cena wants to be 'present' for his WWE farewell
The 47-year-old wrestling turned actor will bring his 23-year in-ring career to an end in 2025 with a 36-date run between January and December, and he wants to make sure he's fully in the moment for each appearance.
Speaking at the LA premiere of 'Jackpot!' alongside his wife Shay Shariatzadeh, he told Extra: "We got an awesome present tonight, I’m trying to be here.
"I also want to be present for that time [with WWE], you know. That’s a culmination of a 23-year career and WWE was kind enough to agree that this would be a good idea.
"Let’s do 36 dates all next year. We’ll pick them strategically so fans around the world can get together and raise hell one last time.”
Cena, who made his WWE debut in 2002 and has been focusing more on his Hollywood career in recent years - insisted he doesn't want to dwell on what his life will be like after hanging up his boots.
He added: "I’ll figure out what’s going on in my life after that, but I’m going to be present and enjoy those moments.”
He also refused to be drawn on naming dream opponents for his run, admitting there will always be people after his retirement that he wishes he could have got in the ring with.
He said: "The great thing about WWE is the story never ends… It always seems to grow in reach and grow in popularity so even after I retire I would want to have illusions of like, 'Oh what would a match be like with this person or this person?'
"I never tried to marry myself to those concepts because that stuff is beyond my control, I just kind of take the opponents that I’m given and try to tell the best story I can.”
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