The countdown has begun for John Cena’s final year in the ring, and WWE is pulling out all the stops for a farewell tour that promises to be as epic as his career. Starting January 6 at the premiere of Raw on Netflix, Cena’s retirement tour will run through December 2025, featuring what WWE is billing as a year full of “lasts” for the 16-time world champion.
More Than Just the Big Three
So far, WWE has confirmed three key dates for Cena:
- January 6: Raw from Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome
- February 1: Royal Rumble
- March 1: Elimination Chamber at the Rogers Centre in Toronto
While these dates might suggest a once-a-month farewell match schedule, wrestling insider Dave Meltzer has dropped the scoop: Cena is expected to wrestle 35 to 40 times throughout the year.
“He’s gonna be working most of the big shows this year,” Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio. “Probably he’s going to run 35 different markets during 2025. And every one — or maybe except for New York — will be marketed as ‘John Cena’s last time in…’ [insert city here]. It’s a whole bunch of farewells.”
This approach seems poised to turn 2025 into a Cena-palooza, with fans from coast to coast flocking to arenas for one last glimpse of the iconic leader of the Cenation.
Cena’s Name Value = Big Money
WWE isn’t just banking on nostalgia—they’re literally banking on Cena’s star power to pack arenas. The company is holding Elimination Chamber in Toronto’s 41,000-seat Rogers Centre, a significant jump from its usual 20,000-seat venue. This strategic move underscores WWE’s confidence in Cena’s ability to sell tickets at a premium.
Meltzer also took a swipe at AEW, suggesting that the rival promotion missed a golden opportunity to market Sting’s farewell matches similarly. While Sting’s final match at AEW Revolution was well-received, Meltzer argued that promoting lead-up events as “Sting’s last time in [City X]” could have driven even higher attendance.
What’s Next for Cena?
The retirement tour kicks off at Raw on January 6, and with 35–40 dates ahead, expect Cena to pop up in major cities worldwide. Whether you’re chanting “Let’s go Cena!” or “Cena sucks,” one thing is clear: 2025 will be a year to remember for the Cenation—and for WWE’s bottom line.