Wrestling legend and Hollywood actor John Cena will headline a blockbuster WWE event in Perth this October, marking what’s being promoted as his final appearance in Australia as part of a global retirement tour.
The announcement was made during WrestleMania in Las Vegas, where Cena took centre stage and won his 17th WWE championship, defeating Cody Rhodes.
“This October, John Cena lands in Perth for a full-scale WWE takeover,” a WWE promotional video declared.
A Weekend Wrestling Spectacle
The three-day WWE event will kick off with SmackDown, end with Raw, and have Cena featured as the highlight. Promoters are billing the event as “one epic weekend” that will serve as Cena’s final appearance in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
The event will take place at Perth Arena, building on the success of last year’s WWE Elimination Chamber at Perth Stadium, which featured stars like Logan Paul, Randy Orton, and Rhea Ripley and attracted 18,200 interstate and international fans, contributing an estimated $36.2 million to the Western Australian economy.
Cena’s Retirement and Hollywood Career
Cena, now 47, began wrestling in 2001 and has since become a WWE icon. In July 2024, he announced he would retire from professional wrestling in 2025.
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Outside the ring, Cena has become a Hollywood mainstay, starring in films such as Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad, Bumblebee, Trainwreck, and most recently Jackpot! with Awkwafina.
Government Quiet on Financial Details
Despite the significance of the event, WA Tourism Minister Reece Whitby declined to disclose how much the state government paid to secure Cena’s appearance or the WWE event itself.
“It’s a very competitive business,” Mr Whitby said. “We’re competing against other states and countries. It’s not appropriate that I reveal the numbers involved because we want to be competitive in attracting future events.”
Was This Event Part of a Larger Deal?
In late 2023, Mark Shapiro, president of TKO Holdings — WWE’s parent company — stated the company received $US16 million from the Australian government for “a combination of events.” However, it remains unclear whether Cena’s upcoming Perth event is included in that package.
Mr Whitby expressed confidence that Cena’s participation would outdraw even the 2024 Elimination Chamber and provide global exposure for WA tourism.
“This will be the exclusive WWE appearance for Cena in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia,” he said. “It’s a huge deal not just for wrestling fans, but for the tourism economy of Western Australia.”
