John Cena believes his decision to walk away from in-ring competition could spark a meaningful shift in pro wrestling culture.
The WWE icon officially retired in December 2025, closing the chapter on his legendary career with a final match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Since then, Cena has remained firm on not returning to the ring, emphasizing the importance of honoring a proper farewell.
Speaking on TMZ’s Inside the Ring during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony 2026 red carpet, Cena addressed AJ Styles’ retirement and whether “The Phenomenal One” would stick to it.
Cena expressed hope that Styles follows the same path, suggesting that retirement in wrestling should carry real weight for fans who emotionally invest in a superstar’s final match. At the same time, he acknowledged that Styles’ situation is unique, especially with his son pursuing a wrestling career.
“So, I’m one of those people who wants to be the first to retire, and I hope I set a trend and he’s the second. I think it’s very important that we respect our audience. When they invest in us to see us for the last time, that moment should carry weight and importance,” he said.
John Cena on AJ Styles potentially wrestling his son
While Cena admitted he’d personally like to see Styles remain retired, he also recognized the potential significance of a future father-son match, noting that it’s something fans would likely embrace if the opportunity arises.
“I know his son is also in the business, so as much as selfishly I want to say, ‘You’re retired, stay retired,’ if he has a chance to wrestle his son, he should take it. And I think the audience would want to see that. But hopefully, he wouldn’t say that if he didn’t truly feel it was time to stop.”
AJ Styles officially retired after losing to Gunther at Royal Rumble 2026, making him one of the first major names to follow Cena into stepping away from active competition. He was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during the WrestleMania weekend.
Fans can catch up on WrestleZone’s live coverage of WrestleMania 42 Sunday here.
READ MORE: Gunther Reveals Why AJ Styles Retirement Match Meant More Than John Cena
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