John Cena’s Farewell Tour: A Journey Through His Eras
John Cena’s iconic entrance phrase, “My time is now,” resonates in the ears of fans, but his time in the ring is coming to an end. Cena, at 48 years old, announced last summer that 2025 would mark the end of his time as an active WWE wrestler. Each match brings him closer to hanging up the jorts, including his participation in WWE’s first Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis on September 20th.
For those joining this farewell tour belatedly, and for those who wish to relive an extraordinary career in and out of the ring, we present “The John Cena Eras Tour”.
The Prototype
In 2001, WWE recruited John Cena, a former NCAA Division III American football player and aspiring bodybuilder. With a shaved haircut and prominent biceps, Cena was introduced as “The Prototype”, a being “50% man and 50% machine”.
In February 2002, “The Prototype” won the OVW championship, which earned him his promotion to the main roster of WWE, where he quickly became… ruthless.
Implacable Aggression
In a June 2002 edition of “SmackDown”, Kurt Angle issued an open challenge. Cena, overflowing with confidence, presented himself to Angle. In his debut, Cena responded to Angle with a phrase that would define him: “Ruthless Aggression!”Although the result wasn’t the most important thing, a star had been born.
The Doctor of Thuganomics
Cena, with a hidden talent for rap, joined a group of wrestlers who improvised in the back of the tour bus. Stephanie McMahon, a member of the creative team, noticed his ability and suggested incorporating rap into his character.The white rapper character from Boston was born, with his catchphrase “Word Life” and his entrance theme “Basic Thuganomics”, which Cena himself wrote and performed. To the surprise of many, Cena became a villain.
Despite his role as an antagonist, his charisma and rhymes connected with the audience. At Survivor Series 2003, the crowd chanted his slogans.
A few months later, Cena would conquer his first WWE championship.
The Reign of the “Spinner Belt”
In 2006, Cena starred in the film “The Marine”, marking the beginning of his successful acting career. At WrestleMania XX in 2004, Cena defeated The Big Show, winning his first major title in WWE.
His third United States title was personalized with a unique design, the “spinner”, which became a Cena icon.
Face of the PG Era
On July 22, 2008, WWE programming adopted the TV-PG rating, aimed at families. Cena became the hero of the “PG Era”, preaching “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect”.
However, the fans’ reaction was mixed. Criticisms arose about his fighting style, and the famous meme “Cena Wins LOL”.
The Nexus
In 2010, WWE presented “NXT”, with veterans guiding young talents. On June 7, 2010, six former NXT contestants, known as The Nexus, stormed the ring attacking everyone, including Cena.The arrival of Nexus was one of the most impactful in WWE history. However, the story did not meet expectations and the angle lost momentum.
Once in a Lifetime vs. The Rock
In 2011, The Rock returned to WWE and verbally confronted Cena. Their match was set for WrestleMania XXVIII, the longest build in WWE history.In WrestleMania XXVIII, in Miami, Cena and The Rock starred in an epic match. The Rock won, marking an unforgettable moment.
Cena finally got his rematch and the WWE title at WrestleMania, achieving his thirteenth championship.
John Cena’s United States Open Challenge
In 2015, Cena began issuing open challenges for the United States title, inviting any competitor to face him. This stage generated memorable moments.
This period included an exciting title fight against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2015.
Tying the record
At the 2017 Royal Rumble, Cena faced AJ Styles, winning and tying Ric Flair’s record of 16 world championships.Cena, recognized for his philanthropic work with the Make-A-Wish foundation, has granted hundreds of wishes, which contrasts with the criticisms received throughout his career.
In 2022, Cena entered the Guinness Book of Records for granting the most wishes in the organization’s history, with 650 and counting.
Dinner in Hollywood
After matching Flair’s record, Cena became a superstar in every sense of the word. His acting career took off, starring in films like “Blockers” and “Bumblebee”.
His role as Peacemaker in “The Suicide Squad” and his subsequent HBO series revealed a more complex facet of Cena.
In 2020, Cena faced “The Fiend” of Bray Wyatt in a cinematic match that explored his own persona. Cena transformed into a member of nWo.
John Cena had conquered Hollywood, even without being a villain… until now.
Retreat Tour
After supporting Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, Cena announced that he would retire as a wrestler at the end of 2025. Could he break Flair’s record before saying goodbye?
In the 2025 Royal Rumble, Cena did not manage to win, but declared that he would seek a title opportunity at Elimination Chamber.
Cena won the match, which earned him a match against Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The Turn Heel
At the end of Elimination Chamber, The Rock appeared and, along with rapper Travis Scott, demanded an answer from Rhodes about his “soul.” Cena attacked Rhodes, joining The Rock and Scott.Cena became a villain after two decades as a hero. The weeks leading up to WrestleMania saw him criticizing the fans. At WrestleMania, Cena, with the help of Travis Scott, defeated Rhodes and broke Flair’s record.
The logic behind this change was debatable, but the impact was undeniable.
The Turn Face
Cena defended his title against Randy Orton and CM Punk before being challenged by Rhodes for a rematch at SummerSlam. Before SummerSlam, Cena thanked Rhodes for bringing him to his senses.Cena acknowledged that the villain role didn’t fit his personality. Rhodes won the title at SummerSlam, and Cena handed him the belt. After the match, Lesnar attacked Cena.
With the retirement tour underway, Cena returned to his hero role. The Prototype, the Doctor of Thuganomics, a champion of the PG era. Now, in the last matches of his final stage, John Cena will retire as John Cena.
