When he became the 16-time WWE champion, there were those who started to intellectualise his squared-circle ring antics. Sports geeks stopped guffawing and began finding meaning in choke slams.
In a manner that was deeply unironical and matter-of-fact, John Cena, the face of WWE for years, announced the start of his Farewell Tour, leading to an eventual retirement in December 2025 at an event dubbed “Money in the Bank”. Explaining his decision later, the famous show-wrestler said that WWE was soon to shift to Netflix, implying that all his last-firsts on the OTT platform will get generously monetised. His new catchphrase “The Last Time is now” is expected to be carefully scripted over 30-40 last-dates in 2025, spanning Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and Wrestlemania. The much-loved and aped gimmicks, from robotic power moves to arrogant hiphop, from an Attitude Adjustment on Triple H to comical steel chains, are likely to get nostalgic reruns as Netflix’ primary paying public — those in their 30s and 40s – relive their childhoods that idolised Cena’s gigs from Doctor of Thuganomics to the superhero slant.
When he became the 16-time WWE champion, there were those who started to intellectualise his squared-circle ring antics. Sports geeks stopped guffawing and began finding meaning in choke slams. Both Netflix and the new WWE management of Triple H and Shawn Michaels will desperately hope that they can get Cena to aim for a record breaking 17th title at the Rumble or Elimination Chamber, so the pre-written tag of him being the greatest is actually fulfilled.
Netflix and WWE need Cena more than he needs them. He has diversified from the Fast & Furious franchise to playing Peacemaker in Suicide Squad. He has transitioned to OTT with a walk-on part in season 3 of Bear on Hulu, upcoming movie Jackpot on Prime and a dip into Shark Week on Discovery. He makes dreams come true and has 650 make-a-wishes fulfilled. In this world of unending choices, the former bodybuilder and limousine driver will go down as one of the last entertainers to be universally recognised. OTT needs to make the most out of television’s final wrestling hero.
