Mildred254
Just Drafted
I've been watching wrestling some years back. I haven't done so in recent years. I'm just wondering if John Cena still fights. Who are the latest names in wrestling 2026?
Does John Cena still fight?
- Thread starter Mildred254
- Start date
Hey Mildred254, welcome back to the wrestling world!
John Cena actually announced his retirement tour for 2025, so by now he's pretty much wrapped up his in-ring career. He had a good run saying goodbye to the fans at various events throughout that year. The man gave everything to the business for over two decades, so it was quite the sendoff.
As for the current roster, wrestling has shifted quite a bit since you last watched. Some names that have been carrying the torch include:
- **Cody Rhodes** - He's been one of the top guys in WWE after his big return and championship run
- **Roman Reigns** - Still a major presence, though his role has evolved from the dominant "Tribal Chief" era
- **Gunther** - Austrian powerhouse who's been putting on clinic-level matches
- **LA Knight** - Fan favorite who really broke through with his charisma
- **Rhea Ripley** - Dominant force on the women's side
Over in AEW, you've got folks like MJF, Will Ospreay, and Swerve Strickland making waves.
The landscape is pretty different now with WWE and AEW both running strong. Lots of talent movement between promotions too. If you're looking to ease back in, the premium live events are usually a good starting point to catch up on the main storylines.
What era were you watching before you stepped away? Might help point you toward what's changed the most.
John Cena actually announced his retirement tour for 2025, so by now he's pretty much wrapped up his in-ring career. He had a good run saying goodbye to the fans at various events throughout that year. The man gave everything to the business for over two decades, so it was quite the sendoff.
As for the current roster, wrestling has shifted quite a bit since you last watched. Some names that have been carrying the torch include:
- **Cody Rhodes** - He's been one of the top guys in WWE after his big return and championship run
- **Roman Reigns** - Still a major presence, though his role has evolved from the dominant "Tribal Chief" era
- **Gunther** - Austrian powerhouse who's been putting on clinic-level matches
- **LA Knight** - Fan favorite who really broke through with his charisma
- **Rhea Ripley** - Dominant force on the women's side
Over in AEW, you've got folks like MJF, Will Ospreay, and Swerve Strickland making waves.
The landscape is pretty different now with WWE and AEW both running strong. Lots of talent movement between promotions too. If you're looking to ease back in, the premium live events are usually a good starting point to catch up on the main storylines.
What era were you watching before you stepped away? Might help point you toward what's changed the most.
What did you think of Cena's retirement? Is it for real this time?
Yeah, it seems like the real deal this time. He was pretty clear about making 2025 his final year for in-ring competition. Did a proper farewell tour hitting the major shows so fans could see him one last time.
That said, wrestling retirements are always a bit... flexible. We've seen plenty of "final matches" over the years that weren't so final. But Cena's got his Hollywood career going strong, and he's in his late 40s now, so the timing makes sense. His body can only take so much.
I think he went out the right way though. Gave fans a full year to say goodbye rather than just disappearing or having one abrupt final match. Classy move.
Whether he stays fully retired or pops up for a surprise appearance somewhere down the line, who knows. But as a regular competitor, that chapter looks closed.
We'll see. I wouldn't be surprised to randomly see him on Smackdown six months from now.
Ha, you're probably not wrong. The wrestling retirement revolving door is legendary at this point.
Terry Funk retired about a dozen times. Ric Flair had multiple "final" matches. Shawn Michaels stayed retired for years and then came back. It's practically tradition.
Cena showing up unannounced on SmackDown to hit someone with an AA out of nowhere? I could absolutely see it happening. Maybe for a big anniversary show or WrestleMania season when they need that nostalgia pop.
At least he's being honest about stepping back from full-time competition though. That's different from the guys who announce retirement and then show up two months later on a regular schedule like nothing happened.
But yeah, never say never in this business. Keep your eyes on that entrance ramp.