Shawn Michaels had Bret Hart. Stone Cold had The Rock. John Cena had… the fans. Well, he has them for one more year.
Tonight, the Leader of the Cenation returns to kick off his farewell tour on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut. As far as we know, his semi-full-time run will feature around 36 appearances, including the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Wrestlemania 41, as well as a number of international shows.
Retirement tours are rare in the world of professional wrestling, but it feels fitting for Cena. He was the WWE’s biggest attraction for over a decade and his relationship with the WWE Universe is unlike any other superstar’s, past or present.
At last year’s Money In The Bank press conference, the former champ was asked who he considers his biggest rival. Cena didn’t miss a beat: “That’s an easy one… The audience has been my dancing partner for over two decades.” For most of his career, “Let’s Go Cena! / Cena Sucks!” echoed emphatically through arenas, but since becoming a part-timer, those chants have been replaced by the more holistically positive sing-along to his “My Time Is Now” theme song. As the adage goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it’s clear that fans have come to appreciate the 16-time champ’s contributions to the industry. That respect is mutual.
“I’ll never be able to put into words how much the audience means to me,” Cena reflected at that same press conference. “Without them, I’m nothing.”
Now comes the fun part. As the 47-year-old’s time ticks down, and his legendary catchphrase (“you can’t see me”) will soon ring truer than ever, we get to enjoy the final chapter of a historic career. Here’s our wishlist for the John Cena Farewell Tour.
