WWE 2K25 shared a new preview of the John Cena Farewell Tour Edition Pack.
As we reported last week, this upcoming DLC is part of the celebration for John Cena’s actual farewell tour as he holds his final wrestling matches in the WWE.
Why Is John Cena Having A Farewell Tour?
At 48, John Cena has had a storied 20 year career in professional wrestling. He has successfully transitioned that to a new career in Hollywood.
While some fans think that Cena has ‘sold out’, there are other practical reasons for any wrestler to retire, famous or not. It’s in the nature of the sport that wrestlers won’t get to keep performing in old age.
Looking Back To A Completely Different John Cena
Today’s preview takes us back from before Cena had to worry about retirement. In fact, this was when Cena was still building his reputation.
The Doctor of Thuganomics was John Cena’s very first gimmick when he first joined WWE television. A lot of Cena’s younger fans won’t understand, but at this time he was actually a heel.
Yes, before the harshly criticized heel turn of the past few months, Cena actually started out as one of WWE’s bad guys. He started in feuds with Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and The Undertaker.
He even had a clique with Bull Buchanan and Rodney Mack. Yeah, don’t worry if you don’t know who those two are.
How Did Cena Make Himself A Superstar?
Cena was always a fan of hip-hop alongside professional wrestling. After Stephanie McMahon and Paul Heyman caught him doing some freestyle raps backstage, he brought his gift of the gab to the stage.
Cena made amusing and entertaining diss tracks on his wrestling opponents before he wrestled them. He was clearly much better at it than PN News. That’s why he’s the guy who became most famous for it.
Why Don’t We Remember This John Cena?
Something interesting emerged about Cena at this time. As it turned out, he was entertaining and charismatic even without having to rap or even act tough.
Cena would soften the rough edges of his ‘Word Life’ gimmick. Eventually, WWE molded him to a new generation Hulk Hogan; wholesome, popular with the kids, and a hero to look up to.
This is the Cena a generation of wrestling fans remembers. And he fit the role so well, he eventually received backlash just like Hulk Hogan.
Cena became a symbol for WWE management pushing their favorites over what the fans wanted. And in this role, Cena also became part of another superstar’s legendary moment.
So some fans may feel weird realizing that this was who John Cena originally was. And that is, honestly, why the Doctor of Thuganomics had to make it to the John Cena Farewell Tour Edition Pack.
You can watch the Doctor of Thuganomics’ WWE 2K25 ring entrance below.
