The Champ is out of the ring. Following an iconic 24-year run, John Cena has done what he too once deemed impossible, having once said in a previous interview, “Wrestlers don’t retire.” On December 13 (US time), the pro-wrestling superstar not only ended his decades-long WWE tenure, he also submitted to the opponent he clashed against in his swan song, former two-time heavyweight champion Gunther.
While many had been Cena would clinch the title at “Saturday Night’s Main Event,” a tap-out signal finally put a full-stop to his WWE career.
Having emerged as a part-time WWE performer from 2017 to 2024, as per ESPN, John announced at last year’s Money in the Bank Premium Live Event that he would be hanging his wrestling belt at the end of 2025. And so began his retirement tour in January, as the world had already started associating him more with Hollywood than anything else.
John Cena’s net worth: He is not the richest wrestling star in the world
Recognised as one of the greatest wrestling stars, John Cena may also be billed as one of wealthiest WWE stars in the world. But he is not the richest. Someone else matches that description, and their net worth is more than ten times higher than that of Mr Money in the Bank.
Several reports emerged today, suggesting that the richest of them all is none other than Cena’s very own wrestling/Hollywood bigshot colleague, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. However, the renowned outlet, Sports Illustrated reported earlier this year that the man sitting on top of the billion-dollar industry was actually a billionaire himself, unlike both the ‘Peacemaker’ or Maui.
The man holding the title of the richest wrestling icon of all time is actually also the most controversial name in the history of pro-wrestling, Vince McMahon, who has a net worth of $3.2 billion. Given that he is a former pro wrestling promoter and the co-founder of the modern WWE, McMahon who was an occasional professional wrestler. And so, some may argue that the American businessman should be ruled out of the running for the richest wrestler’s title.
What a sendoff for John Cena ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y1R3MTsWBL
— ESPN (@espn) December 14, 2025
If that’s the case, that honour is held by The Rock, who according to the Sports Illustrated is a few hundreds of millions of dollars short of joining the billionaire club. The Jumanji and Moana star has a net worth of $800 million. That number is exactly ten times higher than John Cena’s net worth reported in the Sports Illustrated.
According to the renowned sports outlet, the now-retired pro wrestler leapt into the Top 5 of SI’s list, with a net worth of $80 million.
Dwayne Johnson’s farewell tribute to John Cena
Ahead of Cena’s final match, The Rock took to his official X account to give The Champ his flowers for a legendary WWE run. Starting his post with the “goat” emoji, alluding to the “Greatest of All Time” honour, he tagged Cena’s account while extending warm wishes and thanking him for his contributions to the world of WWE.
“John, you epitomise one of my favorite quotes, ‘it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,'” he wrote online. “Congratulations on your historic and extraordinary @wwe career, my triend. Have fun, tear it down, and as always, ‘thank you for the house’.”
Plugging a video message as well with the tweet, Johnson said, “This message is for the one and only, my friend, my brother, John Cena.
“The time has come. You are wrestling your final match in your unbelievably, blessed and historic career.” Offering some warm words before the match, The Rock went on, “Thank you for your contributions, all of your accomplishment, your passion and commitment to this wild and crazy world, that’s unpredictable and all the things that it is, professional wrestling that we love.”
🐐@JohnCena
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 13, 2025
John, you epitomize one of my favorite quotes, "it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice".
Congratulations on your historic and extraordinary @wwe career, my triend.
Have fun, tear it down, and as always, "thank you for the house" 🥃 pic.twitter.com/uvYyDn0JwD
Looking back at their own shared history fondly, Johnson said, “We have spilled blood together in our matches, literally. We have torn tendons, literally… We have broken records…” He went on to spell out the most important thing about their bond by spilling what he loved the most about Cena.
“Your jorts…I love the jorts,” he quipped. Chuckling through it, he corrected himself and said, “The thing I loved the most about you is you’re a good human being, and that matters.” Johnson even took a moment to acknowledge the Cena family, knowing becoming a wrestler always turns into a “family affair,” making sacrifices inevitable. Most of all, he emphasised one message, which he concluded his video with: “Have fun.”
Fans were instantly hit in the feel, as many demanded “an epic match” between The Champ and The Rock was needed, as things feel “unfinished.” Another message in the comments section read, “Rock just gave Cena the final boss blessing. The end of an era hits different.” A third comment said, “From one goat to another.” And a fourth dreamt on, “You guys are both legends and cool people. Good to see you getting along. Maybe you could make a podcast together with Cena.”
