John Cena Says He Was “Trying to Fail” on Purpose During His WWE Farewell

John Cena’s farewell tour wasn’t about going out with a perfect record — it was about taking the biggest risks possible, even if they bombed.

On the latest episode of Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Cena got brutally honest about the mindset behind his final year in WWE. And instead of protecting his legacy, he admitted he was intentionally pushing boundaries and trying to fail — just to prove a point.

“I want you to know that I am making brave, courageous decisions that will have polarizing and critical feedback. And I am still trying to fail. I am desperately trying to fail on my way out the door.”

According to Cena, his mission wasn’t just to entertain fans — it was to inspire the next generation of WWE superstars to break out of the “play it safe” mindset.

“We could bitch and complain about a system that is archaic and doesn’t exist, or I could influence people to say, ‘Hey, you’ve got 52 live events this year. Do not be afraid to fail on camera.’”

Cena pointed to his WrestleMania match with Rhodes as a major example — a bout that was heavily criticized online but meant to be a bold creative swing.

“You and me at WrestleMania? Hey, we’re going to try something different. We’re going to take a big swing — and holy s*, was it criticized. But I wasn’t going to just go out there and do the easy thing. I wanted to paint a different picture.”*

For Cena, failing on the biggest stage isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s leadership by example.

“A lot of folks would say, ‘Easy for you to say, everything you do is a hit.’ No, it’s not. Everything I do is criticized at a surgical level. But it won’t stop me from failing.”

With so many veterans obsessed with preserving their aura, Cena’s approach is a rare departure — and a direct message to younger talent: Stop fearing failure. Start swinging for the fences.

What do you think of Cena’s mindset? Should more legends leave the business this way — or is protecting your legacy more important in the long run?

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