Less than five months after wrestling in his final match<\/a>, the 48-year-old athlete and actor, who is the most decorated pro wrestler in WWE history, stepped back into the ring at WrestleMania 42 on Saturday, April 18 \u2014 only this time, he was the host.<\/p>\n Cena, who hosted the two-day event, kicked off<\/a> WrestleMania 42, which was held at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, on Saturday. Dressed in a suit, Cena made his way to the stage to his entrance theme, \u201cThe Time is Now,\u201d as the audience cheered before he commenced WrestleMania 42 with a few words.<\/p>\n \u201cWow I didn’t expect that. Thank you so much,\u201d the 17-time WWE world champion<\/a> said, acknowledging the crowd’s cheers. \u201cSorry, long-time fan, long-time performer, first-time host. How am I doing so far?\u201d<\/p>\n John Cena hosts WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium on April 18 After stating that the road to this year’s WrestleMania has been \u201cpolarizing,\u201d Cena said, \u201cNow I see why I got the hosting gig. This is the moment I love the most, especially on the road to WrestleMania.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re all in here for the same reason,\u201d the host continued, \u201cbecause we know the time to talk is up, the time to deliver is now, and we are all here with one thing on our minds: \u2018Who tonight will step up and deliver?’ \u201d<\/p>\n As the crowd’s cheers ramped up, Cena added, \u201cIt is such a great honor. Ladies and gentlemen, and everyone watching around the world, welcome to WrestleMania!\u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Cena’s WrestleMania hosting gig comes months after he concluded his WWE career in December 2025.<\/p>\n John Cena wrestling in 2009 After losing his final professional wrestling match to rising WWE star Gunther<\/a> at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, Cena remained in the ring for an emotional post-match moment as the audience serenaded him with cheers and chants. Before his final exit as a wrestler, he also turned to the crowd, bowing and saluting them.<\/p>\n Cena ended his in-ring career as one of the biggest stars to ever come out of the pro-wrestling business. Since rising to fame as a WWE star, he has made a name for himself in the movie business, appearing in blockbuster films like Fast X, Argylle and The Suicide Squad.<\/p>\n He also found a career in TV, first with reality show appearances on E!’s Total Divas and Total Bellas and then hosting competition series such as Wipeout. Later, he also broke through with his starring role in HBO Max’s The Suicide Squad <\/a>spinoff series <\/a>Peacemaker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking with PEOPLE in early 2024, Cena said, \u201cI wouldn’t be who I am \u2014 professionally or personally \u2014 without the WWE<\/a>.\u201d \u201cI promised myself that I would never simply just be there for my own sake,\u201d he continued at the time. \u201cEvery time I perform, I want to give my all to the audience.\u201d<\/p>\n As he neared his retirement from pro wrestling in July 2025, Cena sat down with PEOPLE once again, this time for a cover story.<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2cc3ce5c25e7ea3bbcb4482b32c38023.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Ethan Miller\/Getty<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/80be2ffebc13f45f853022bd727ddb25.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: George Napolitano\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n