John Cena is not planning a return to the ring, but he still appreciates hearing fans ask for one more match.
While Cena has repeatedly stated that his wrestling career is over, fans reminded him how much they still want to see him compete when chants of “One more match!” broke out during WWE Backlash on May 9. Now, Cena has addressed those chants and explained why they meant so much to him.
Speaking to Us Magazine, Cena was asked how realistic a return to wrestling might be despite his retirement. The 17-time world champion made it clear that he is not interested in stepping back into the ring and stated that it would be financial suicide for anyone trying to have him compete again.
“I hate speaking in absolutes … ‘Never’ is a strong word. It would be financial suicide for someone to court me in a position where I would have another match, and I truly mean that. So if you’re in the business of torching currency, that’s the only way to get me back in the ring.”
While that sounds like a firm no, Cena admitted the fan reaction at Backlash genuinely resonated with him. He said hearing fans still want to see him was exciting, but it also reinforced his vision for the John Cena Classic, which he hopes can become a platform for future WWE stars while allowing him to remain involved without wrestling.
“The reason ‘one more match’ resonated so well for me, first of all, I got to express to the fans of how fulfilled I felt when I retired. Second of all, the interest of an audience being like, ‘We want to see you again!’ gets me excited for the new idea of the John Cena Classic. We can do this again. I’ll be there. It’ll be fan-forward and fan-first.”
Cena explained that the biggest difference is that he no longer wants the pressure of preparing for a match. Instead, he wants to focus on supporting talent, interacting with fans, and serving as an ambassador for the event.
“I won’t be so focused on, ‘Man, this match means everything to me. I’ve got to make sure I give all I have when the music plays and I’m under the lights.’ I get to watch other performers, so I can kind of be the ambassador for the event, and I can get out there and meet with people that matter most in my life, the fans.”
He added that hearing fans chant for another match tells him there is still interest in him, but he is trying to channel that interest into something that benefits the next generation of wrestlers.
“So when I hear ‘one more match,’ I hear [that] there’s still interest, the heart still beats. I’m trying to think in my head, How can we gear this to where I can be there, be active and be included but allow others to do the thing I can no longer do. I hope we have it with the John Cena Classic.”
While Cena stopped short of using the word “never,” his comments make it clear that another match is not part of the plan. Instead, he seems focused on turning his post-retirement role into something that helps create WWE’s next generation of stars while keeping him connected to the fans who supported him throughout his career.
What do you think about John Cena’s comments? Do you believe he will stay retired, or could fans eventually get that one more match? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below
