John Cena Reflects on His Farewell WWE Tour and Memorable Matches

John Cena has officially retired from WWE, marking the end of an era in professional wrestling. His farewell tour included memorable matches, including a significant bout against AJ Styles at Crown Jewel 2026. Cena reflects on his experiences, the emotional moments shared with fans, and the legacy he leaves behind. Discover the highlights of his career and the matches that defined his journey in the ring. This article delves into Cena's reflections on his retirement and the impact he made in WWE.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 16:43 IST

John Cena's Retirement and Farewell Tour

John Cena concluded his illustrious WWE career following a defeat to Gunther during the Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13. He had announced his retirement a year prior and embarked on a heartfelt farewell tour. This journey began at the Royal Rumble, where Cena was the final competitor eliminated. He triumphed in the Elimination Chamber match, securing a title shot against Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania 41, where he emerged victorious, claiming his 17th world championship. Cena held onto the title until SummerSlam, where he lost it back to Cody at the event known as the biggest party of the summer. Additionally, Cena captured the Intercontinental Championship by overcoming Dominik Mysterio, only to relinquish it back to him at Survivor Series. Throughout his farewell tour, Cena participated in several unforgettable matches and segments.

Three months post-retirement, Cena shared insights about a match from his farewell tour that he revisited. During an appearance at MEGACON 2026, he discussed rewatching his bout against AJ Styles, which took place at Crown Jewel 2026 in Australia. Cena expressed, "I think we had a moment of like serendipity, where you have these two performers, and AJ shared with me that he was going to retire in January. So I really think the world of him and wanted to do something special and make it special. Then you had an audience that kind of understood that." He added, "And man, I don't watch a lot of matches back, because I like to live the moment. I don't like to get into my head about what could I have done different? I can't. It's done. That's one that I have watched back, and like, man, the audience was calling spots for us. It was great."

Styles made his entrance wearing TNA gear, while Cena had a unique introduction prepared for him. The two exchanged numerous finishers from other wrestlers, culminating in Cena winning their rivalry. Notably, Cena did not appear in the lead-up to his match against Styles, despite their legendary rivalry from 2016-17, which had fans eagerly anticipating this final showdown. WWE delivered on this expectation by booking the match, although Cena later revealed that he was initially slated to face Drew McIntyre at Crown Jewel, but plans changed.