WWE star John Cena announced his retirement while giving a heartfelt speech in the ring on Saturday night.

Cena announced his retirement in the ring to a packed out crowd in Toronto.

In the six-minute speech, Cena shared, “The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last. The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last. And I’m here tonight to announce that WrestleMania 2025 will be the last I compete in in Las Vegas.”

“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house you built for so many years,” added Cena.

Take a look:

BREAKING NEWS: John Cena announced at #MITB he will retire from in-ring competition in 2025.#ThankYouCena pic.twitter.com/6TPnYI5iU2

— WWE (@WWE) July 7, 2024

The Greatest of All Time. @JohnCena #MITB pic.twitter.com/2IXxYx3Y8Z

— Triple H (@TripleH) July 7, 2024

NBC News had these details to report:

John Cena offered a heartfelt speech of gratitude to his wrestling fans Saturday night as he announced his retirement from the ring, declaring next year’s WWE WrestleMania his final one.

Cena spoke in Toronto to a crowd that clearly did not want him to go. Fans booed as the wrestler-turned-actor told them of his “official retirement,” which will include a farewell tour next year.

“The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last,” Cena said. “The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last. And I’m here tonight to announce that in Las Vegas, WrestleMania 2025 will be the last I compete in.”

Toward the end of a more than six-minute speech, the audience began a chant of “Thank you, Cena.” He called it an “incredible gesture of kindness.”

“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena said. “Thank you so much always for your voice because it’s really loud, and your honesty because it’s beautifully brutal.”

Cena is a 16-time WWE champion over the course of nearly 20 years with the wrestling franchise. In that time, he has also transitioned into Hollywood, starring in films such as “Barbie” and “Argylle” and making multiple appearances in the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

JOHN CENA HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM WWE

💔💔💔💔💔💔#MITB pic.twitter.com/ZK7jWfbIfe

— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) July 7, 2024

Per Fox News:

Sixteen-time world champion wrestler John Cena announced his retirement Saturday at WWE’s Money in the Bank at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, which Cena said was the “perfect” place to make the announcement.

In recent years, Cena has shown off a towel that said “Never give up.”

This time, it said, “The last time is now,” a reference to his entrance song, “The Time Is Now.”

Cena also wore a shirt that said “The Last Time Is Now Tour” and “John Cena Farewell.”

Cena said he would compete at next year’s Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania, which will be his final events. Chants of “Thank you Cena” roared through the crowd afterward.

“Thank you for letting me play in the house you built for so many years,” Cena told the crowd.