John Cena Reflects on WWE Retirement and Hollywood Transition

John Cena may have built a successful second career in Hollywood, but there is little doubt about which stage still means the most to him. Speaking to fans during a panel at Middle East Film and Comic Con in Abu Dhabi, Cena explained his preference.

When asked whether he preferred acting or professional wrestling, Cena—who retired from WWE last year—noted that acting offered him something wrestling could not: longevity. "The thing I like about acting is I can play a superhero. I can also play an old man if I need to, so I can act for longer than I can wrestle," he said. "But I wish I could wrestle forever because I love it more than anything."

With his 50th birthday approaching in April, Cena expressed gratitude for ending his career in good health despite the physical demands. Having competed in 2,400 matches, he felt it was the right time to step away. Another major factor was making room for new talent. "If you look at the WWE roster right now, it has such a massive crowd of young, hungry talent who want to show the world what they can do," he stated.

Looking back at his career, Cena feels complete closure. When asked about any remaining dream matches, he responded, "I’ve been able to live my dream... I don’t think I left anything on the table." He also credited the fans who booed him for years with teaching him humility and shaping his resilience, while naming Brock Lesnar as his toughest opponent and expressing a desire to have teamed with Andre the Giant.

Outside of wrestling retrospectives, Cena shared fond impressions of Abu Dhabi, praising the local coffee scene and expressing a future desire to race on the dunes.