John Cena Comments On WWE ‘One More Match’ Chants: ‘When I Hear That, I Hear That There’s Still Interest, The Heart Still Beats’

WWE

John Cena has responded to the one more match chants that erupted at WWE Backlash in May, having retired in December of last year.

Last December’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event saw John Cena call time on his in-ring career with a loss to GUNTHER.

The loss may have seen him walk away from in-ring action, but Cena remains a fixture on WWE screens, appearing at Backlash to announce The John Cena Classic.

With fans chanting “one more match” at the retired star, Cena opened up about the likelihood of that happening in an interview with Us Weekly, saying:

“I hate speaking in absolutes … ‘Never is a strong word. It would be financial suicide for someone to court me in a position where I would have another match, and I truly mean that. So if you’re in the business of torching currency, that’s the only way to get me back in the ring.

“Aside from that, the reason ‘one more match’ resonated so well for me, first of all, I got to express to the fans of how fulfilled I felt when I retired. Second of all, the interest of an audience being like, ‘We want to see you again!’ gets me excited for the new idea of the John Cena Classic.

“We can do this again. I’ll be there. It’ll be fan-forward and fan-first. I won’t be so focused on, ‘Man, this match means everything to me. I’ve got to make sure I give all I have when the music plays, and I’m under the lights.’ I get to watch other performers, so I can kind of be the ambassador for the event, and I can get out there and meet with people that matter most in my life, the fans.

“I really can’t wait for this thing to find its legs, for us to get a city and a date and move forward. And I can’t wait for it to happen. So when I hear ‘one more match,’ I hear that there’s still interest, the heart still beats.

“I’m trying to think in my head, How can we gear this to where I can be there, be active and be included but allow others to do the thing I can no longer do? I hope we have it with the John Cena Classic.”

Cena would also address the status of the John Cena Classic, which will see fans vote on the first-ever champion in an as-yet-undetermined format, indicating that the mechanics of the voting system were still being explored.

One More Match

John Cena remains under WWE contract, with his current role reportedly seeing him scout developmental talent, promote Club WWE and continue to make in-ring appearances, albeit in a non-wrestling capacity.

Currently just 49 years old, “one more match” would seemingly not be out of the question for a star not yet half a century old, particular when compared to the likes of Rey Mysterio and R-Truth, both of whom have passed the 50 year of age mark and continue to compete on a regular basis.

A Hollywood star in his own right, and more than comfortable when the physicality that his choice of roles requires, Cena isn’t a slouch, as was demonstrated in his final match. Indeed, “torching currency” could be seen as a self-depracating comment when it comes to the potential of a star as committed as John Cena, be it in WWE or any other role.

Retirement, for many veterans of the squared circle, isn’t as final as it may sound to the everyday worker, with that itch no doubt forever present.

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• wwe
• John Cena
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