John Cena Explains Why He’ll Never Have Kids

John Cena is an idol to countless children who fell in love with professional wrestling. But the WWE superstar has opened up about why he’s not ready to have children of his own.

Cena, now 47, announced this week that he is retiring from WWE as an in-ring talent, making the “you can’t see me” slogan all the more realistic when he retires at the end of 2025.

Throughout his career, he’s become an icon and role model for kids (and adults) who love nothing more than Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. And he also seems like a genuinely nice guy, with his persona being an extension of the real man behind the in-ring performer.

Cena continues to hold the Guinness World Record for most requested celebrity by children to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants life-changing wishes to children with serious illnesses.

His ability to give children incredibly special memories doesn’t make him want to have memories of his own.

Now that he is approaching 50, Fast X And Ricky Stanicky star has remained true to his life decision, despite the bizarre negative reactions he has received here and there.

Cena spoke candidly about his decision not to become a father The Drew Barrymore Show in January 2022. In the episode, Cena said, “I’m really enjoying my life. I’ve been riding a lightning bolt for a while now.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to do things I never would have dreamed of, even though I had quite ambitious dreams.”

You won’t be seeing him on WWE for much longer (MEGA/GC Images)

The most important thing for Cena is time. And he simply doesn’t think he has enough of it when it comes to adding a new life into the mix – with children who require a lot of attention to keep them alive in those early years.

“It’s hard work. It’s hard work to balance the time. I have to run myself well,” he said.

“It’s hard work to be the best partner and husband I can be to my loving wife. It’s hard to stay connected to the people in my life that I love, and it’s also hard to do an honest day’s work.

“This is just my perspective, again, I’m not fully qualified in this, but I think just because you’re good at something is not a strong reason to do it.”

Cena takes on Triple H during his wrestling best days (STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Cena added: “You have to have a passion for it. You have to have fuel for it. It’s like saying to someone, ‘Hey, you’re pretty good with your hands, you’d make a great carpenter.’ But if I want to be an actor, I’m going to be an actor.”

Cena has been married to Shay Shariatzadeh since his 2020 wedding. It is his second marriage after three years with Elizabeth Huberdeau.

Cena dated fellow WWE superstar Nikki Bella for six years. The two got engaged, but ended it just weeks before the big day.

Cena and ex-fiancée Nikki Bella (Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

About his relationship with Bella, Cena openly said that her desire for children was the reason they broke up. About her decision to break up with Cena, Bella told the Better Together with Maria Menounos podcast that she didn’t want him to ‘regret’ having children with her.

“Even when he was finally willing to give me children, I still knew it wasn’t what we wanted,” she said.

“And that was ultimately what made the difference for me. I thought: if I’m going to force someone to become a father, then that’s what I want, right?”