Dear John,

It’s Saturday Night.

The year is 2013, and my dad, my grandad, and myself are headed to allstate arena in Sydney to watch you live. This was the second time I had seen you, but something about this time was special. There was something in the air, something indescribable, something magical. I walked in and my dad bought me a shirt. Of course, it was a John Cena shirt.

You went up against Ryback in the main event. A tables match for the WWE championship. You won, and my year was made. Something amazing happened, though. My dad & I were cheering so loud, you had actually noticed, and you pointed right at me and my dad.

Something so simple, was everything to that 11 year old boy.

When people ask me who my first love was, it wasn’t a girl. Nah, women are too complicated (jokes mum, love you) but I say you. John Cena. Because every week I turned the TV on and you wouldn’t fail to put a smile on my face. I was 7 when I fell in love with the world of wrestling. It was a random weekend day and I just happened to switch to FOX8 which showed RAW & Smackdown to Australian viewers at the time. The rest is history.

Words can’t describe what you meant to me as a young kid growing up in a small city. We didn’t have much growing up, but turning RAW on every week was enough to make my day, my week or my month. When you were on, it was going to be another special day.

I’ll never forget the first match I watched you in. It was the elimination chamber in 2010. This was the first time I had truly seen the never give up attitude you spoke about. In one of the best performances of your career you outlasted 5 other men in one of the most dangerous matches in the history of wrestling. Moments later, you had to defend the belt again and lose it to Batista. I cried.

But a month later you won it back, at WrestleMania 26. This was the first WrestleMania I ever watched. You were amazing. It was like watching a real life superhero. It was like the legends they tell coming to life, right in front of my very eyes. Seeing all those kids cheer and cry. I was one of them. I was a cenation member then. I am one now. Proudly.

15 years later, we are 24 hours out from your final match. I am so incredibly honoured and privileged to have watched you. The amount of times I saw you snatch victory from the jaws of defeat inspired me to do what you have told me and a generation of kids to do: NEVER GIVE UP.

In fact, the shirt I bought at that show, all those years ago, said those exact words. I still have it. But there are 3 other words that you have instilled in a generation:

Hustle.

Loyalty.

Respect.

The lessons you have taught me and millions of others are far more valuable than anyone who doesn’t understand you can ever know. I’m so lucky to have been put on this earth the same time you were. Because you are the reason I have gotten through so many of my life’s worst moments. Your philosophy and your messages and your actions over the last 15 years of my life taught me to always see it to the end.

What you also taught me was that sometimes it’s ok to fail. But it’s only ok if you make sure to get back up harder than you fell down. And everytime I watched you lose, you came back and won bigger. You won HARDER. You taught me to always pick myself up, and that requires a mental strength only so few can muster, but you taught me that.

You carried these principles to the end, and the end is tomorrow. I still can’t believe it, and I still don’t think I’m ready to say goodbye. You mean so much to not only me, but an entire generation of kids. But not even my generation, but you have inspired the generation after me. The amount of kids in Cena clothing in 2025 shows the impact you have had on multiple generations and that’s not great level status, that’s GOAT AREAS!!!!

Which brings me to what I have to say next. You are the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Undisputed. People can argue with a wall. No one can touch you. You are a SEVENTEEN time WORLD champion! I have been there to see most of these and what an honour it has been. No one can take that moment away from that 11 year old boy, and all the moments I had watching you on your journey to becoming the greatest to step into the ring. I hope your heart is full.

Because mine is.

Although I’m not ready to say goodbye, I am ready to say this: Thank you. Thank you John. For everything you have given me. When you ride off into the sunset tomorrow I will proudly cry manly tears seeing you go, but also being so proud of the fact I got to witness the greatest ever do his thing.

I can’t believe it’s tomorrow.

I’ll never forget that night in Sydney.

And I’ll never forget YOU!!!

Thank you, John.