John Cena Says He Already Signed WWE Contract Extension for After 2025 Retirement

John Cena is adamant that 2025 will be his final year of in-ring competition, but that doesn't mean his tenure with WWE will be over.

Appearing on the Club Shay Shay podcast (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), Cena revealed he recently signed a new contract with WWE that runs past 2025:

"I have such a trustworthy relationship with them. Over two decades. I am a champion of the brand. I love the company. It is my home. They are my family. Even after 2025, I've already signed an extension to remain a member of the WWE family for the near, mid, and long-term future. I don't think there will be a beat of my heart where WWE blood doesn't come out of it."

Cena made a surprise return at Money in the Bank to announce his retirement tour would take place starting next year.

While full details of his retirement tour were unclear at that time, Cena has since provided more information.

The 16-time WWE champion told Steve Weintraub of Collider (h/t Robert DeFelice of Fightful) he is expecting to give WWE "right around 36 dates" between January and December.

Triple H has said that Cena will be involved at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania and by the end of 2025, it "will be the end" of Cena's in-ring career.

It's not uncommon for wrestlers to back out of a retirement stipulation, but it would be a surprise if that happens in this case given how public Cena has been about this being the end for him.

Cena's new contract with WWE likely has nothing to do with him potentially working matches beyond 2025. Rather, it's presumably more about continuing to sell his merchandise after his in-ring career is over.

WWE has several stars from the past signed to a legends contract that pays them an upfront royalty fee for merchandise sales and use of their likeness in video games.

Even though Cena hasn't been a full-time performer in WWE for years, he still regularly ranks the top merchandise-sellers in the company.

Cena, R-Truth and The Miz defeated Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh on the Raw After WrestleMania on April 8. The match extended Cena's streak of having at least one match on WWE television every year dating back to 2002.

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