Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty
John Cena
- John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas
- The win gives Cena the most world championships in professional wrestling history, according to WWE
- Cena announced last year that he plans to retire from professional wrestling sometime in 2025
John Cena is officially the most decorated professional wrestler of all time!
Cena won his 17th pro wrestling world championship on Sunday, April 20, by pinning Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.
The record-breaking victory moves Cena past WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who held 16 world championships throughout his own legendary pro wrestling career, according to WWE. Cena’s win — in front of 63,226 fans at Allegiant Stadium, including 76-year-old Flair — appears to be the crowning moment of an illustrious wrestling career that he says will come to an end this year.
Cena, who turns 48 this week, announced last summer that he plans to retire from wrestling sometime in 2025. While some speculated Cena’s retirement might happen at WrestleMania 41, his Sunday night win to reclaim WWE’s top championship seemingly ensures the Fast & Furious star will stick around pro wrestling for at least a while longer.
“I just love it,” Cena told PEOPLE earlier this month, underscoring the difficult decision to walk away from his in-ring career and focus full-time on acting.
Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty
John Cena and Cody Rhodes in the ring
Professional wrestlers traditionally lose their championships to another competitor before retiring. However, Cena — who recently began playing a heel character on-screen — has threatened WWE fans he’ll “leave” the show with its main title. The soap-operatic dilemma surrounding WWE’s biggest star has drummed up one of its most popular storylines in years.
“I will win that championship and retire with it,” Cena taunted the fans last month. “I am taking it home with me. I’m leaving all of you to create a brand new toy belt because the real one comes home with me. I will be the last real champion in WWE.”
Cena, a 25-year pro wrestling veteran who finally broke through to Hollywood with his supporting role in 2015’s Trainwreck, returned to WWE in January and made it known he wanted to fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship in order to surpass Flair as the most decorated pro wrestler of all time. But after qualifying to face Rhodes in March, the Peacemaker star shocked fans by turning heel for the first time in more than two decades and attacking the champion alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and rapper Travis Scott.
Related: John Cena Promises ‘More Unpredictability on the Way’ After Shocking Heel Turn (Exclusive)
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty
John Cena
Weeks afterwards, Cena told PEOPLE fans should expect “more unpredictability” to come with his wrestling character’s storyline, revealing his plan for what’s to come “is something that goes beyond WWE programming.”
Now, the questions for WWE viewers remain: When will Cena retire? And what will become of his latest WWE championship reign?
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
While Cena’s character has warned of leaving without looking back, the man behind the character told PEOPLE he’ll never fully be done with the pro wrestling business — even when he does finally leave his boots in the ring.
“When I can no longer compete, I will always be a member of the WWE family in some capacity, whether I can pass on my wisdom through mentorship or be an advocate and a spokesperson for the brand,” Cena said. “They certainly will have to shoo me away, because I’m like you, I’m a fan first and I love it so much.”
Read the original article on People
Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty
John Cena
- John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas
- The win gives Cena the most world championships in professional wrestling history, according to WWE
- Cena announced last year that he plans to retire from professional wrestling sometime in 2025
John Cena is officially the most decorated professional wrestler of all time!
Cena won his 17th pro wrestling world championship on Sunday, April 20, by pinning Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.
The record-breaking victory moves Cena past WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who held 16 world championships throughout his own legendary pro wrestling career, according to WWE. Cena’s win — in front of 63,226 fans at Allegiant Stadium, including 76-year-old Flair — appears to be the crowning moment of an illustrious wrestling career that he says will come to an end this year.
Cena, who turns 48 this week, announced last summer that he plans to retire from wrestling sometime in 2025. While some speculated Cena’s retirement might happen at WrestleMania 41, his Sunday night win to reclaim WWE’s top championship seemingly ensures the Fast & Furious star will stick around pro wrestling for at least a while longer.
“I just love it,” Cena told PEOPLE earlier this month, underscoring the difficult decision to walk away from his in-ring career and focus full-time on acting.
Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty
John Cena and Cody Rhodes in the ring
Professional wrestlers traditionally lose their championships to another competitor before retiring. However, Cena — who recently began playing a heel character on-screen — has threatened WWE fans he’ll “leave” the show with its main title. The soap-operatic dilemma surrounding WWE’s biggest star has drummed up one of its most popular storylines in years.
“I will win that championship and retire with it,” Cena taunted the fans last month. “I am taking it home with me. I’m leaving all of you to create a brand new toy belt because the real one comes home with me. I will be the last real champion in WWE.”
Cena, a 25-year pro wrestling veteran who finally broke through to Hollywood with his supporting role in 2015’s Trainwreck, returned to WWE in January and made it known he wanted to fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship in order to surpass Flair as the most decorated pro wrestler of all time. But after qualifying to face Rhodes in March, the Peacemaker star shocked fans by turning heel for the first time in more than two decades and attacking the champion alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and rapper Travis Scott.
Related: John Cena Promises ‘More Unpredictability on the Way’ After Shocking Heel Turn (Exclusive)
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty
John Cena
Weeks afterwards, Cena told PEOPLE fans should expect “more unpredictability” to come with his wrestling character’s storyline, revealing his plan for what’s to come “is something that goes beyond WWE programming.”
Now, the questions for WWE viewers remain: When will Cena retire? And what will become of his latest WWE championship reign?
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
While Cena’s character has warned of leaving without looking back, the man behind the character told PEOPLE he’ll never fully be done with the pro wrestling business — even when he does finally leave his boots in the ring.
“When I can no longer compete, I will always be a member of the WWE family in some capacity, whether I can pass on my wisdom through mentorship or be an advocate and a spokesperson for the brand,” Cena said. “They certainly will have to shoo me away, because I’m like you, I’m a fan first and I love it so much.”
Read the original article on People
