Pro wrestling superstar John Cena has announced his retirement from WWE, marking an end to his two decade in-ring career with World Wrestling Entertainment.

He broke the news at the Money In the Bank event in Toronto, stating that his last bout in the ring will be in 2025. The Canadian crowd responded with chants of “Thank you Cena”, which the wrestler remarked as being an “incredible gesture of kindness”.

Originally from Massachusetts, the 47-year-old moved to California in 1998 to pursue a career in bodybuilding, before switching to professional wrestling shortly after. He signed with WWE in 2001, becoming a breakout success after adopting the persona of villainous and often hilarious trash-talking rapper.

Cena won his first WWE Championship in 2005, transitioning from heel to face (bad to good, in industry lingo) and adopting a more clean-cut persona, often donning t-shirts displaying slogans like ‘Rise Above Hate’ and ‘Never Give Up’.

The 16-time world champion and leader of the  ‘Cenation’ has also followed in the footsteps of Dwane ‘The Rock’ Johnson as a pro wrestler managing to carve out a successful Hollywood career. Making his acting debut in 2006’s The Marine, Cena has starred in films such as The Suicide Squad and Fast and Furious 9, as well as the TV series Peacemaker.

Among his accolades is a Guinness World Record for granting the most Make-a-Wish wishes, granting over 650 wishes to seriously ill children since 2002.