WWE 2K25 should highlight the retiring John Cena

It wasn't necessarily shocking that John Cena announced his retirement coming in 2025, but it was impactful. The WWE legend has been embracing his role as a movie star lately, and certainly has nothing left to prove in the ring.

To his credit, Cena does not want to be one of those guys that still comes out there and wrestles at a shadow of his former self. It makes sense that a company guy like him would do this the way pro athletes often do. By announcing his retirement a year in advance, he gets to do a big, flashy tour that will make make WWE, and potentially Take-Two Interactive, a whole lot of money.

Whether you love or hate Cena, he has been a key figure in WWE programming for decades. He played the superhuman, Hulk Hogan-style hero for as long and as well as anyone. When he realized everyone, including him probably, was getting tired of it he put Brock Lesnar over so hard kids in the arena were crying.

Now I know WWE 2K23 did a John Cena Showcase mode, but it focused on the matches Cena lost. By the way, that was actually a creative way to do a story mode, and I supported that decision. But as the biggest star of the past 20 years, Cena's earned at least a special edition of WWE 2K25. It will print money just like all his retirement merch is currently doing.

WWE 2K23 told a lot of his story, but Cena's career has countless incredible matches that haven't been touched on yet. Provided they can get the licensing for everyone, how fun would it be to relive one of Cena's most controversial wins leading Team WWE to defeat the Nexus? Taking a concrete DDT, avoiding the 450 splash and then tapping out Wade Barrett was "Super Cena" at the height of his powers. It would be frustating to try in game, and then fun when you finally accomplished it.

In the wrestling business, we don't often get clean breaks like this. Retirements aren't typically planned a year in advance. People leave the company because they're unhappy. Wrestlers have career-ending injuries with the intent of coming back, but their bodies betray them.

2K should take full advantage of this retirement scenario, because we may never see one like it again.