John Cena has been in WWE for more than 20 years, debuting on the main roster in 2002 and wrestling through to 2025. That run spans roughly 23 years from signing to retirement if counting his early WWE developmental contract in 2001.
Key dates
- John Cena signed with WWE (then WWF) in 2001 and was assigned to its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling.
- He made his televised main roster debut on SmackDown on June 27, 2002, answering Kurt Angle’s open challenge.
- His in-ring WWE career concluded with his final match on December 13, 2025, giving him over 23 years under WWE contract and about 23 years from signing to retirement.