Report: John Cena wrestling outside WWE following retirement was never possible
John Cena confirmed he will never return to the ring as a competitor following his WWE retirement in December 2025.
According to Fightful Select, Cena wrestling in another promotion was never regarded as a possibility following his retirement. Although he had earlier labeled it as ‘financial suicide’. Cena signed a five-year deal with WWE after his retirement in an ambassadorial role which already prevents him from competing in a promotion outside of WWE. Additionally, as reported earlier, the John Cena Classic is expected for December but is subject to change.
Cena hosted WrestleMania 42 and made an appearance at Backlash to announce the John Cena Classic. The event will feature talents across Raw, SmackDown and NXT with fans voting to determine the winner.
The ideation syncs with The Last Time Is Now Tournament and SNME on December 13 where stars from all brands showcased their in-ring athleticism. Cena has been adamant about pushing the next wave of talents in WWE.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.