John Cena dedicated himself to supporting younger WWE talent, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, during his 2025 retirement phase. Following his final match, Cena had an in-depth conversation with Cody Rhodes on the show “What Do You Want to Talk About?” where they reflected on Cena’s last years and his efforts to stay adaptable and mentor others to be the same.
Cena shared, “I always aim to be open to coaching, but it’s easy to fall into the mindset of needing to do 200 live events annually. That’s no longer the reality. The key message I tried to impress on new performers was this: ‘I’m exiting the scene. I could take the easy path out, but instead, I’m making bold, courageous choices that will attract both praise and criticism, and yet I’m still going to stumble. I’m determined to fail bravely as I leave.’”
He expressed his hope that others would embrace opportunities on live shows and TV without fearing mistakes in front of the audience. Cena cited their bold move at WrestleMania 41 alongside Rhodes, which faced criticism, but he didn’t want to play it safe. “I aimed to show a new narrative, engage with fan feedback, and evolve from that. People often see WrestleMania as a finale for a wrestler’s career, but for me, it’s a fresh start.”
If using a quote, please credit “What Do You Want to Talk About?” and give thanks to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This insight into Cena’s mindset highlights a crucial shift in WWE — veterans embracing new roles as mentors while encouraging innovation and resilience among younger talent. For WWE fans, it signals a promising future where stars are not afraid to take creative risks, helping the sport stay dynamic and exciting.
