When did John Cena sign with WWE? Career highlights explored as wrestling icon prepares for final match

John Cena faced his final WWE match on December 13, at WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington, D.C.

With this match, the 48-year-old ended his 23-year WWE career. Reportedly, he faced Gunther in the main event. Cena signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2001. He started as a standout in the company's then-developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he began training and competing under the moniker “The Prototype.”

Cena reportedly announced his retirement from in-ring WWE competition in July last year at Money in the Bank in Toronto. At that time, he specified that Royal Rumble 2025 and Elimination Chamber 2025 would mark his last premium live events. He made his last WrestleMania appearance was at WrestleMania 41 in April, as reported by USA Today.

Cena has made a record of 17 world championships in WWE, which includes 14 WWE Championships and 3 World Heavyweight Championships.

Continue to read more information.

Exploring more details about John Cena career

John Cena began his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling, a training facility based in California. He made his debut in the same year under the moniker, The Prototype, and won the UPW Heavyweight Championship in 2000.

Prior to wrestling, Cena played college football at Springfield College. He graduated in 1998 with a degree in exercise physiology. He later moved to California to work as a bodybuilder.

In order to make ends meet he took low-paying jobs at the iconic Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach where he folded towels and cleaned toilets. He also worked as a limousine driver. During his time at the gym, John Cena was encouraged by his fellow trainees to take up wrestling.

Reportedly, John Cena’s big break came in 2005 when he won his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21 against JBL. However, his career expands beyond wrestling into acting, music, and hosting reality TV shows.

John Cena was a rebel as a teenager which inspired his love for hip-hop. It led him to develop his “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona in WWE. He eventually released his first album titled You Can’t See Me in 2005. According to Billboard, his debut album peaked at No. 15. He told the outlet in an interview:

“At the time, WWE was a rock and roll company. They didn’t have any depth of field for hip-hop, and I listened to my own music being like, ‘I could do better than this.’ I called up a friend who knew a friend who had a studio. We got some beats and we made an album. And that was it, that was it.”

John Cena began his acting career by starring in WWE Studios action films such as The Marine and 12 Rounds. He later transitioned into mainstream Hollywood with films like Trainwreck and Blockers, before becoming a part of major films like F9, and Bumblebee. He recently starred in Heads of State alongside Idris Elba.

In an interview with Tom Rinaldi spoke about his retirement and said:

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“I chose to retire. I made a promise to the WWE that I would not stick around when my skills can't match the product, and they can't. I'm 48. My 40-yard time has gone like [down]. I can't match up with the product now, and that's okay, because what I do isn't who I am. The realization of that has helped me come to like, no, let these guys have it now because they're really good. All I would be doing is a disservice to the consumer if I go any point beyond this.”

Post his retirement, Cena continues to remain the ambassador for WWE after he signed a new five-year deal with WWE.

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