“And then you look at the age graphic, and you’re like, ‘Oh, man.’”
Cena admitted he started thinking about retirement when he was 45, and while he could have found a way to keep going, it didn’t feel it was the “respectful” thing to do.
“The game just looks too fast for me, because it is.
“I could change my style at the risk of ruining that energy that WWE invested in me. And that’s tough, because from an ego standpoint, you’ve got to step away from the audience.
“I love it. It’s great, but that’s not respectful to the fans, and it’s not respectful to the company.”
Cena is still involved in WWE, having appeared as the host of WrestleMania 42 last month, and at Backlash earlier this month, where he announced plans for the John Cena Classic event, which will showcase the stars of the future.
Away from wrestling, the 17-time world champion has recently been diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, also known as eyelid mites, having teamed up with Tarsus Pharmaceuticals to promote its “FDA-approved treatment”.
He explained: “I’m 49, I read a lot, and I started reading pages three times. I also had itchy eyes, red eyes, eye crusties. We all get them.
“I was self-diagnosing like an idiot. I was like, ‘I’m getting old. This is just how my life is.’
“I went to an eye doctor. The eye doctor was like, ‘Yep, you’re right, your eyes are gone.’ He also said something I didn’t know: ‘You have eyelid mites.’”
He was prescribed Tarsus’ Xdemvy eyedrops, which have helped with the condition.
He told People magazine: “Now, I still need my readers, but I don’t have that redness, that itchiness and certainly not waking up with the crusties.”