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John Cena announces retirement from WWE during event in Toronto

On3 imageby: Andrew Graham07/07/24AndrewEdGraham
Wrestling: WWE Wrestlemania Night 1
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

John Cena, one of the icons of professional wrestling for the last two-plus decades, announced on Saturday he would be retiring from WWE. His final event will reportedly be Wrestlemania in 2025.

Cena made the announcement in the ring at WWE’s “Money in the Bank” pay-per-view event in Toronto on Saturday. With the crowd listening in, he made his announcement brief.

“Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” Cena said, followed by a wave of shocked and disappointed crowd noises.

Cena was a mainstay in WWE from 2001 to 2018, gaining acclaim as one of the top-billed and most-decorated wrestlers. He’s performed part time with WWE since 2018.

Beyond pro wrestling fame, Cena has become a frequent figure on televisions and movie screens in the United States, becoming a popular figure in the broader pop culture.

Some NBA stars recently hit the ring

The NBA stars were out in a recent version of WWE Smackdown. In a twist, Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton decided to join Logan Paul in the ring. And New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson also made an appearance. First, Bruson and Haliburton had a stare-down.

Then, Brunson shocked everyone when he jumped into the ring with a steel chair.

One of the more notable parts of that night’s WWE Smackdown was that it was Kayla Braxton’s last event with WWE. The two sides were in talks for a renewal of her contract, but she opted to not renew her deal, so fans will have to catch her elsewhere.

Kevin Owens also did a Swanton Bomb from a rail in the stands, absolutely leveling someone on a table as he crashed through it. Logan Paul also pulled off a Swanton Bomb from the top ropes in the ring. While Paul has drawn plenty of controversy throughout his career, there’s no denying his tremendous athleticism and skill as a wrestler. He started working with the WWE in 2021 and it’s been a spectacular fit for both parties. The former YouTuber and entrepreneur amassed an impressive audience (over 23 million subscribers) and an extensive amount of wealth over the years in a variety of ways.

The Knicks-Pacers rivalry heated up in this year’s NBA Playoffs, as Haliburton and Brunson faced off in a classic seven game series in May. The Pacers won 4-3, in one of the better matchups we saw this year. Jalen Brunson put together a historic season, once again cementing his status as one of the best superstars in the league today. He became just the third player in Knicks’ franchise history with 10 or more 40-point games in a single season.