LOS ANGELES, April 1: John Cena, a WWE icon for over two decades, is preparing for his final WrestleMania this April. Known for his mantra "Never give up," Cena is reflecting on his legendary career, his unexpected heel turn, and what lies ahead.

The 47-year-old WWE star and actor made headlines in March when he aligned with rival Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and attacked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. This marked Cena's first heel turn in more than 20 years, surprising fans who had long idolized him as a fan-favorite hero. However, Cena isn't revealing too much about the turn.

"My only reply to that is: I hope you enjoy watching the show that’s coming up," Cena told Yahoo Entertainment, referring to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, where he’s set to challenge Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. A win would secure Cena’s record-breaking 17th world title, surpassing Ric Flair’s record of 16 championships, a milestone Cena currently shares.

This WrestleMania holds special meaning for Cena, as it marks the end of a career that defined an era for WWE fans. Cena first announced his plans to retire from wrestling in July 2024 at WWE’s Money in the Bank event in Canada, telling the crowd, “Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE.”

Despite retiring from in-ring competition, Cena isn’t stepping away entirely.

“The word ‘retirement,’ to me, simply means acknowledging and accepting that you’re closing a chapter and opening another one,” Cena explained, citing The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks as a book that helped shape his perspective on what comes next. “This is a thing that a lot of folks go through, and it’s a normal progression in life,” he said. “It’s closing a chapter, continuing to be curious, and finding that second mountain to climb.”

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Cena has no regrets.

“Any creative venture has to involve courage because you’re essentially putting a piece of art out there and letting everyone have an opinion on it,” Cena shared. “You have to have the courage to give your best and also the courage to understand that once it’s out in the universe, it is the subject of opinion.”

He added, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it is you can’t please everyone.”

Staying connected with his fans, Cena has partnered with WWE’s SnackDown contest in collaboration with Drumstick, inviting fans to showcase their best WWE-style "Snack Talk" for a chance to win a trip to WrestleMania 41.

“As a 13-year-old, I loved having a Drumstick at the end of my lunch,” Cena recalled. “I’m really looking forward to seeing what our fans do with this. It gives fans of WWE a chance to be superstars by ‘talking snack,’ as Drumstick would say.”

For younger fans aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Cena's advice is simple: “Be yourself.”

“There’s never been a better time to be around sports entertainment than right now,” he said. “The best version of yourself is good enough, and that will help you achieve whatever you want in life.”

As WrestleMania 41 draws closer, Cena remains focused on the bigger picture. When asked about his legacy, he expressed little concern.

“I don’t care much about that. I never have,” Cena stated. “We are here for such a short time. I just think you should make the most out of the time you have.”

As for how he’ll be remembered, Cena leaves that to others.

“People’s perception of me, my values, and how I live my life — that will be theirs to own,” he said. “As long as I look in the mirror and I’m fine with who I am, and think I did the best that I could, I just hope to use my time accordingly.”

Cena’s final act in WWE is shaping up to be one of his most unforgettable. Although his impact on wrestling and the millions of fans who have followed his journey will be felt for years to come, he views this as just another chapter.

“We’re just getting warmed up,” Cena concluded.