John Cena's full-time in-ring career is long over as he has successfully transitioned to Hollywood. But as he's discussed in the past, he always wants to remain part of the WWE family.
Speaking to Collider, Cena revealed that he's talked to WWE about possibly coaching and mentoring in the future.
“That’s been three years of hard conversations with that dude looking back in the mirror and I’m at peace with where it’s at. I want to contribute where I can," he said. "I’ve even talked about coaching or mentoring. Like I said, it’s the environment I feel the most fluid, so I can sit down and talk to you about WWE as long as you want to talk, but what I don’t want to do is take somebody who has spent 50 bucks on a ticket for themselves, their partner, their families, they bought souvenirs, they bought popcorn and paid for parking and have look at me like, ‘He used to be something.’ You know?”
Cena stated that he didn't want to hold on like Mickey Rourke's character in 'The Wrestler.'
"The movie 'The Wrestler' was centered around a guy who can’t let go. I’m being a shitty human being because I can’t let go of this thing. I invested my life in that company and then there’s no one, whether they like my performance or not, that will argue that. I think after the extended period of time that I put in, it’s okay for me to take a step back and reflect and be like, 'Okay, I need to have more than that in my life because if that’s all that defines me, that’s a depreciating asset.' Every sunset that happens, I get a little slower and a little older and a little slower and a little older and it’s eventually going to end.”
He continued, saying he is invested in his movie career and doesn't want to cheat his current projects by splitting his time.
"The pay-per-views are so often and the engine never stops. It’s a demanding profession," he said. "It really is a demanding profession. I think once you’re there, you know the investment it takes to be there. Plus, I’m also really super passionate about this and it takes all of your heart and soul to be successful in that arena. It takes all of your heart and soul to be successful in this room. I tried to split them before in 2004, ‘05, ‘06 when I did all those movies for WWE. The movie thing failed because my heart wasn’t in that. Now my heart is in this. I have to enjoy this and not long to be someplace else, not have that fear of missing out. As much as most of the people who tell me that I suck at the top of their lungs are like, 'Man, you got to come back.' I’m invested in this and I really am enjoying the ride.”
2019 marked the first year Cena did not wrestle at a WWE pay-per-view since 2001. In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cena discussed the possibility of showing up at WrestleMania 36. You can view his full comments by clicking here.
His new movie "Dolittle" came out in theaters on Friday, Jan. 17.
