John Cena Was Willing To Do 220 Days For His Retirement Year; WWE Said No
It’s hard to imagine a WWE without John Cena, isn’t it? For two decades, he’s been the company’s undeniable cornerstone, the superhero who never gives up, and the face that runs the place. But as every fan knows, all good things must come to an end. The champ’s retirement tour is winding down, and it’s a bittersweet pill to swallow.
While we’re getting ready to say our final goodbyes, Cena himself has been pulling back the curtain on what this last ride has been like—and what it almost was. And let me tell you, his original plan that was declined by WWE makes me angry.
The Insanity Of a Farewell Tour
Speaking with Bill Simmons, Cena dropped a bombshell that reveals just how disconnected he’s become from the grueling reality of a full-time WWE superstar’s schedule. His initial vision for a retirement tour was to go all in full-time, one last time.
“The plan, originally, was to do a full year,” Cena explained. “This goes to show my ignorance of the business. I wanted to do 220 dates. Just take the year off from everything, hop on a bus, do a full WWE calendar, and totally say goodbye.”
220 dates and WWE & TKO told one of the greatest superstars in their history, nah, we’re good, 36 will do. I get he is 48 years old and has shown signs of decline, but that’s ridiculous. Do you know how much better Cena’s final year would have been with more of these dates? Maybe his heel run would have been so much better, but man, it’s another example of how WWE failed Cena during his final year in wrestling.
The Reality Of a Hollywood Superstar’s Schedule
Even with a “mere” 36 dates, this farewell tour has been anything but a walk in the park. Juggling a burgeoning film career with the physical demands of pro wrestling is a logistical nightmare. Cena described a frantic schedule of crisscrossing the globe, flying from movie sets in Budapest and Morocco to arenas in Indianapolis, all while trying to function like a normal human being.
“‘Hey man, 36 dates must have been easy this year.’ I did too many jobs,” he said. The romantic idea of catching up on sleep during flights? A total fantasy. “You think you can do it, ‘I’ll sleep on the plane.’ You don’t. It doesn’t happen. Then, you get upside down, and you’re super fatigued.”
It seems like Cena himself is grateful that he got fewer dates. Hard not to see why with how crazy his schedule in Hollywood is. That is why I believe him when he says he will never wrestle again once this is over.
What’s Next For the Champ?
It’s a strange feeling, watching a hero fade into the sunset. We’ve booed him, we’ve cheered him, and we’ve spent years debating his legacy. But love him or hate him, there’s no denying the impact he’s had. This retirement tour, chaotic as it’s been, is a final gift to the fans who have been there through it all. It’s one last chance to see the man who defined an era, before he hangs up his boots for good and fully embraces the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
So, as we prepare for that final bell on December 13 against Gunther at Saturday Night Main Event, let’s appreciate this last match, and hopefully, it’s a great way for him to go out. It may not have been the 220-date marathon that would have made his final year much better, but it’s been a poignant and very human farewell tour.
