Is John Cena Retiring From Wrestling? WWE Star Discusses Future, Roman Reigns

John Cena WWE — John Cena isn't retired from wrestling, but his days as a full-time performer are over after losing to Roman Reigns at WWE No Mercy 2017. Pictured: Cena enters the ring at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on Aug. 23, 2015 in New York City. Getty Images

After spending a decade as the face of WWE, John Cena’s run as the company’s top full-time superstar has reached its end. Roman Reigns cemented himself as the No.1 babyface with a win over Cena at WWE No Mercy 2017, though it can be argued that the shift happened even before Sunday night’s match.

Cena’s loss, as well as the way he reacted after being pinned by Reigns, forced some to ask one question at the conclusion of the pay-per-view—is John Cena retiring from wrestling?

It’s the very question that was posed to Cena on “Raw Talk” immediately following No Mercy. Renee Young told the 16-time world champion that the end of his match was reminiscent of the WrestleMania 33 main event, which saw Reigns defeat The Undertaker and presumably end the Deadman’s career.

“It was weird because, here you have a guy that says he is the guy, and I don’t feel right about it. I don’t feel that he is,” Cena said. “Then in a one-month period, I watch this young man mature into the guy, from a superstar standpoint. Tonight, it was from a performance standpoint. This is the building that I won my first championship at WrestleMania, and that was many moons ago. So sitting there tonight, it honestly felt like a giant burden had been lifted off of my shoulders in the best way possible.”

Cena lingered in the ring after losing to Reigns, and he was showered with "Thank You Cena" chants as he walked backstage. He called it an “emotional” night, citing the transition from himself to Reigns as the “the guy” in WWE.

When pressed by Jerry Lawler on his future, Cena was adamant that he’s not done wrestling for good.

“I just think my role is different,” Cena said. “I said this on a podcast to Edge and Christian. Regardless of if I have outside opportunities or not, I’m 40 years old and I have 15 years of track experience here in the WWE, and not on a normal level, at an elite level. I don’t know how much longer I can keep it up. If I had opportunities outside, great. If I didn’t, I think I gotta know when to say when at that point. And I’m not done. But I don’t know if I can keep going at the pace that I’ve been going, and I think that’s a major thing for me to try to consider. This is my family. This is my life. I eat, breathe and sleep WWE. I don’t think anybody, whether they like me or they don’t, I don’t think anybody can argue that.”

Cena’s transition from a full-time wrestler to a part-time performance seemingly began two years ago. He’s taken multiple hiatuses since then, using the time off to film TV and movies.

It’s been nearly five years since Cena fought in the main event of WrestleMania, doing so in his rematch with The Rock in 2013. Reigns has been in the WrestleMania main event every year since 2015.

Now that the torch has been passed to Reigns, Cena might show up even less.

That doesn’t mean Cena won’t still be a major part of what WWE does. Expect to see him at the biggest shows of the year, having matches near the top of the card at Royal Rumble, WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

“I guess I’ll be like a weird Batman character,” Cena said. “When they shine the light, I’ll come running.”

Cena made his WWE debut in 2002. He won his first world championship in 2005.