John Cena has put his pro wrestling career on the back burner for the past few years, no great surprise when he's found success in Hollywood. As an actor, he's stolen the show in several projects, with The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker rightly earning him widespread praise from fans and critics.
During the SAG-AFTRA strike (which saw actors hit the picket lines), Cena returned to WWE and ended his run being brutalised by Solo Sikoa. Now, as WrestleMania draws near, all eyes are on what the Leader of the Cenation does next.
Unfortunately, based on a recent interview with People, it sounds like he only has a few matches left in him.
"I turned 47 this past year and I don't have much time left in the WWE," he admitted. "I think it’s just the demand of age. You know, I'm trying to figure out when to close that chapter."
"I wouldn't be who I am - professionally or personally - without the WWE, and I promised myself that I would never simply just be there for my own sake," Cena adds. "Every time I perform, I want to give my all to the audience. And I’ve got to admit when I hit the 45 mark, I had to begin to try to form an exit strategy and I'm trying to work on that currently."
As for what his final run could look like, the 16-time WWE Champion explains, "I just want to do what’s best for the company. If it's a big final match or if it's just a final match, or however I can be integrated into the product to let everyone know that this chapter is over, I'm willing to listen to what WWE has to say."
"I do have almost two and a half decades of wisdom built up where I think I can offer a mentor perspective for sure," he continues. "So, if I am not integrated with the WWE family moving forward and in perpetuity, then I think it's a waste for everyone involved."
"I basically just want to still leave WWE with my head up high and for the audience to be able to appreciate the effort that I've given."
Whenever Cena does choose to retire, it's going to be the end of an era for WWE and the company won't be the same without him. Of course, we've had a few years to get used to his repeated absences and WWE has very much slotted Cody Rhodes into Cena's old position since his return from injury this time last year.
Who would you like to see Cena's final opponent be in WWE? Let us know in the comments section.