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With less than a month to go, WrestleMania 36 will feature several high-profile matches this year. Several legends are returning for this year's show and one of the names is John Cena.
Recently, The Fiend lost the Universal Championship to Goldberg. Just when fans thought Bray Wyatt's character's momentum was lost, Cena returned to SmackDown and cut a passionate promo that indicated he may not wrestle anymore.
He left the ring tand was on the ramp giving his trademarrk salute when The Fiend showed up. Looking Cena dead in the eye and then pointing at the WrestleMania logo, he asked for a match which was duly accepted by the Cenation Leader.
Just like many fans, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, too, believes that this could be Cena's final match in the company. After that, he may take retirement. Here are 5 signs that are indicating the same.
#5 The numbers of matches he wrestles per year has decreased significantly
In the past few years, Cena has transitioned from a full-time Superstar to performing part-time in WWE. From wrestling 100+ matches a year to one or two occasionally, it's clear that these numbers are only going to decrease moving forward.
John Cena does a lot of things apart from wrestling. He promotes WWE regularly, attends media conferences and also is active in Hollywood. Sooner or later, The Cenation Leader's schedule will take a toll on his appearances inside a WWE ring. He last wrestled on an episode of RAW in 2019, it's been over a year since he had a match. This shows that he is getting busier day by day and performing for WWE may not be possible for him now.
This might make him consider retirement at WrestleMania 36 against The Fiend. It'll be the first time in two years when Cena will have a 'Mania match.
#4 Actors aren't allowed to take too many bumps in the ring
One of the richest actors in the world, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is also considered a great wrestler. He is passionate about this sport but the sad reality is that he isn't allowed to wrestle anymore. Technically, it's his contract that prevents him from wrestling.
If actors get injured, it'll cost the production team their time and money. This is why they (the actors) are legally bonded not to do anything that might injure them. The Rock injured himself a few years ago while wrestling, and because of that, he doesn't risk his body anymore.
The is the similar case with John Cena. He has joined the cast of several movie franchises. And him getting injured while wrestling would be the last thing producers want to see.
Even if Cena wants to wrestle (as he says), his film contracts would prevent him from performing. He is taking new projects at a rapid pace, and this might trigger his retirement sooner rather than later.
#3 He doesn't want to take the spotlight away from younger talents
In the past, John Cena (like several other Superstars) was accused of taking the spotlight away from younger talents in WWE. But Cena has proved that he cares about the roster. Since becoming a part-time wrestler, The Cenation Leader has never hesitated putting over up and coming Superstars. Whenever he gets the opportunity to face someone who has the potential, Cena lets the Superstar get a win. Finn Balor is a great example of this. The 16-time WWE Champion requested WWE to allow Balor to pin him in the middle of the ring.
During his SmackDown return promo, Cena said that WrestleMania has to go without him. He doesn't want to take someone else's spotlight. And he really means it. This is why we think that he could retire after facing "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and giving the rub to him.
Cena has already put over countless talents in recent years. He has taken pinfall losses and some of them were clean. The Fiend could be the final Superstar on his list before he retires from WWE.
#2 Nothing left to prove in WWE; Also not interested in breaking Ric Flair's record
John Cena has accomplished almost everything in WWE. From winning the WWE Championship 16 times to main eventing pay-per-views and selling out arenas, the champ has done it all. One thing Cena hasn't done yet is breaking Ric Flair's record for most World Championship reigns.
Cena has tied Flair's record and is just one away from going ahead of The Nature Boy. ena has huge respect for Flair and he doesn't have an interest in breaking his record and becoming the 17-time WWE Champion.
“There’s so much respect. They look at each other and see the generational talent, right? Sometimes records or streaks should be broken. Ric’s all for it. John isn’t. He doesn’t want it.” (Source)
Since acquiring a part-time role, Cena has always thought about other Superstars first. He wants to contribute in whatever way he can to make WWE better. Even if it means he'll have to lose his matches.
Cena has nothing left to prove in WWE. Maybe the company wants him to do one last favor and that's putting over the hottest commodity in pro-wrestling at the moment, The Fiend. Then, Cena could retire and focus on his other duties.
#1 It's a circle, The Fiend and John Cena are back to where they started and now Bray Wyatt wants to put an end to it
On last week's episode of SmackDown, Bray Wyatt made it clear why he targeted John Cena and challenged him for a match at WrestleMania 36. The reason was further made clear by Ramblin Rabbit, who said Wyatt's career went on a downward spiral since his lose to the Cenation Leader at WrestleMania 30.
It all started at this show, and The Fiend may want to finish it (and by that we mean Cena's career) here. This could be what Cena had planned to do at this year's WrestleMania.
Last time he gave a promo, on SmackDown, he said (watch the clip above):
“This wasn't goodbye forever, just goodbye for now.”
This is possibly the biggest hint thus far that Cena will retire at WrestleMania. The Fiend will, of course, be the one to do the honors. Cena could still wrestle sometime later, as others have done after retiring.
