While this current WWE run is unlikely to be John Cena's last, it's obvious his wrestling career is winding down. He's become increasingly busy in Hollywood and, at 46, there's only so much gas left in the tank.
We don't anticipate him retiring for a while yet (thankfully) but like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson before him, Cena will likely soon have to choose between being a pro wrestler and fully committing to his acting career.
During a recent interview with Corey Graves on his After The Bell podcast, the Leader of the Cenation was asked what he still hopes to achieve in WWE before his career ends and made it clear he's not done yet.
"The great thing about WWE is there's always another show and there's always something to accomplish. I think individuals tend to look at it selfishly. Can I win a 17th championship? I haven't won the Intercontinental Championship. I want to win another Money in the Bank. I want to win another Royal Rumble. It could be like, I'd like to help Roman Reigns become a larger global phenomenon. I would like to be Austin Theory's mentor."
"I would like to do as many live events as I possibly can because physically I'm able to do them and just give the yield of trying to give whatever I have left to an audience that cares, while they care. I don't look at accomplishments from the perspective of, 'I need to win another championship.' I need to do this. I just need a chance to get out there in any capacity and then I want to be able to take that, okay, what's the hand I was dealt? I'm gonna try to play this the best I can. I don't think I'll ever run out of things to possibly accomplish."
"The sad struggle that I have every day is I'm 46, I'll be 47 in April, and everyone is so skilled that I can't do the things I used to do anymore and I don't know if you've been watching my stuff, but I don't do that much. So I also want to be able to contribute to the WWE and then walk away from it, and I mean, like, walk away from it, not all hunched over and not broken and beaten but appreciative and healthy with a perspective of this is a great chapter in the story of my life and one that has made me who I am."
Later in the conversation, Cena was also quizzed on how he wants his WWE run to conclude. In The Rock's case, it was in a losing effort to Cena at WrestleMania. Dave Bautista, meanwhile, went out on a high after clashing with Triple H in a memorable career vs. career No Holds Barred match.
In Cena's case, it sounds like he wants to make a star out of whoever retires him.
"I love that question because again, there's a lot of different perspectives, right? Anyone else sitting here would probably craft a scenario where, 'Oh, in my mind, the perfect thing to do is this, at this event, with this individual.' I just want to do what's best for WWE. That has been my order of operations since I walked in this building. It hasn't changed. It's my way of thinking, but it's done me pretty well."
"So I think when I'm courageous enough to express to those making choices, like hey, this is it, I do what they tell me to do because I believe in full faith that they are doing what's best for business. So whenever it comes to an end, and it will, whatever is deemed the best thing for the WWE is exactly what will be the perfect moment. Period."
Cena will face Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel this weekend. It's unclear whether he plans to stick around beyond that, though it seems likely seeing as there's still no end in sight for Hollywood's SAG-AFTRA strike.