John Cena Tapped to Host WWE WrestleMania 42 After Retirement

The 17-time champion will take on hosting duties for the two-night event in a last-minute move to boost ticket sales.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:06pm

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Former WWE star John Cena has been announced as the host of WrestleMania 42 this month in Las Vegas, Nevada, despite not originally being planned for the role. According to reports, Cena was approached in February to take on hosting duties for the two-night event, as WWE looks to fill more seats after lower-than-expected ticket sales so far.

Why it matters

Cena's inclusion as host is seen as a last-minute move by WWE to generate more interest and ticket sales for this year's WrestleMania, which has struggled to match the attendance numbers of previous years. As one of WWE's biggest stars, Cena's presence could help drive more fans to the event.

The details

Cena, who retired from in-ring competition this past December, had previously expressed openness to taking on non-wrestling roles with WWE. The company reportedly approached him in February to serve as the host of WrestleMania 42, which is scheduled for April. So far, ticket sales for the two-night event have been 13.3% lower than last year, prompting WWE to bring in Cena in an effort to boost attendance.

  • Cena retired from WWE in December 2025.
  • WWE approached Cena about hosting WrestleMania 42 in February 2026.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The players

John Cena

A 17-time WWE world champion who recently retired from in-ring competition but has signed a five-year deal to be an ambassador for the company.

GUNTHER

The current WWE Intercontinental Champion, who faced Cena in his retirement match at Saturday Night's Main Event in December 2025.

WWE

The professional wrestling promotion that is hosting WrestleMania 42 and has brought in Cena to serve as the host of the two-night event.

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What’s next

WWE will hope that Cena's presence as host of WrestleMania 42 will help drive increased ticket sales for the two-night event, which has so far underperformed compared to previous years.

The takeaway

Cena's transition from in-ring competitor to non-wrestling ambassador for WWE highlights the company's efforts to keep its biggest stars involved even after retirement, as they look to leverage star power to boost interest and attendance for marquee events like WrestleMania.