Jey Uso shocked the WWE Universe by eliminating John Cena to win the 2025 Royal Rumble. Fans had hoped to see Cena win his third Rumble, making him only the second superstar after Stone Cold Steve Austin to achieve that milestone.

Cena cut a well-received promo on Raw's 6 January Netflix debut. At the start of his retirement year in wrestling, Cena ran through his career - from his early spell as OVW's prototype to the present day - then referenced breaking the record he currently shares with Ric Flair (in WWE canon) and winning a 17th World Championship.