John Cena reflects on biggest piece of criticism he received in his WWE career and how it changed his approach

John Cena’s in-ring vocation with WWE is coming to an end.

He’s considered to beryllium 1 of the top pro wrestlers to embark connected a vocation with the institution and the dynasty that helium helped make has seen him triumph 17 WWE titles, including the 1 helium won astatine WrestleMania 41. Cena’s last lucifer volition instrumentality spot connected Saturday astatine Saturday Night’s Main Event against Gunther, who earned the close to instrumentality connected the legendary superstar.

Cena reflected connected his vocation successful an interrogation with Tom Rinaldi, which aired Monday night. He was asked astir a portion of disapproval that stuck with him done his career.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

John Cena enters the ringing during Survivor Series astatine Petco Park connected Nov. 29, 2025 successful San Diego, California. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)

The Massachusetts autochthonal said it was a three-word chant from the assemblage successful the mediate of his vocation – "You can’t wrestle."

"The ‘You can’t wrestle’ chants due to the fact that I would bash the aforesaid 5 moves each nighttime and triumph each the time," Cena said. "And what I perceive from the assemblage is I’m seeing different performers bash these fantastic things and past astatine the extremity of the night, I spot you bash 5 moves and triumph due to the fact that I’m, successful the throughline of the story, mounting up a dynasty and if it ain’t your guy, dynasties are tough. So, I’ve learned that."

Cena said helium didn’t bristle astatine the chants. Instead, it drove him to beryllium amended and to grow his determination set.

"In proceeding that line, I’d conscionable beryllium into doing much stuff. And it looked janky and ‘unorthodox’ but I listened and I went backmost to wrestling schoolhouse halfway done my career," helium said. "I went to newer performers and asked what you deliberation I’ll beryllium bully at? Can you thatch maine immoderate stuff? And newer performers similar Sami Zayn, similar Kevin Owens, similar erstwhile A.J. Styles archetypal came, CM Punk. Teach maine immoderate stuff. How tin I bash better? Make you look good, that’s ever my lead, and what tin you thatch me? And that’s from the audience, chanting astatine the apical of their lungs, ‘You can’t wrestle.’

John Cena makes his entranceway during "Monday Night RAW" astatine TD Garden connected November 10, 2025 successful Boston, Massachusetts. (Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)

MYSTERY ATTACKER INTERRUPTS MEN'S WARGAMES MATCH AS LIV MORGAN RETURNS TO HELP DOMINIK MYSTERIO

"Our assemblage volition proceed to thin successful until they get you, and it didn’t get me. … I’ll effort to beryllium amended and not marque it beryllium a hard reset. I’ll effort to beryllium amended and beryllium my authentic self."

Cena’s vocation spanned 25 years with respective championships nether his belt. His status circuit this twelvemonth started astatine the Royal Rumble, wherever helium finished arsenic the runner-up successful the match.

He won the Elimination Chamber lucifer to spell up against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He stunned fans with a bottommost crook that could lone gully comparisons to Hulk Hogan. The bottommost persona lone lasted a fewer months arsenic helium was backmost to the babyface fans grew to emotion and adore by the summer.

John Cena hugs Cody Rhodes during WWE Elimination Chamber astatine Rogers Centre connected March 1, 2025 successful Toronto, Canada. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He and Rhodes battled 1 much clip for the rubric astatine SummerSlam. He besides had matches with Punk, Styles, Logan Paul, Brock Lesnar and Dominik Mysterio during the year.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.