John Cena's Holiday Plans Look Very Different After WWE Retirement

John Cena finally gets more time to enjoy the holiday season.© NDTV Library

John Cena says his holidays used to be “very, very short,” and these days he has room to slow down. The former world champion retired from in-ring competition last December, and this year he is fronting Chime's holiday campaign, “The Most Rewarding Time of the Year,” which launched on Nov. 9. In an exclusive interview, he talked about how the season looks now, the campaign's musical twist and why he thinks gifts should have a personal reason behind them. The campaign pairs a TV commercial with a musical special, and both lean on the idea of getting more back from holiday spending.

Cena's New Chime Campaign Brings a Different Side of His Holiday Season

The commercial follows a singing and dancing Cena from a crowded grocery store to a family dinner. Alongside it, a musical special is rolling out on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where he puts his own spin on “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Pentatonix is due to release its version later this month. The partnership isn't brand new either, since Cena and Chime started working together earlier this year.

Cena said the Christmas-carol idea appealed because he could commit to the joke. “I've got a very successful partnership with Chime, and a lot of that partnership is being able to look at ourselves and laugh,” he said. Then he added, “I think a lot of the humor leans into the fact that you're taking it seriously.”

Behind the jokes, the pitch is getting more back from holiday purchases, not spending less.

Cena said seasonal costs can create pressure when prices fluctuate and “every dollar counts.” Customers can pick a cash-back category that fits their plans, so someone hosting dinner might go with groceries, while a traveller could choose travel.

Cena described Chime's broader aim as helping customers build financial understanding, responsibility and independence. He also pointed to his own background: “I was a coffee can saver, and I came from a family of debt.”

John Cena Says Holiday Gifts Should Come With a Personal Reason

Cena's gift advice starts with skipping the out-gifting contest. He suggested price caps and Secret Santa exchanges so people can stay inside their budgets.

His own rule is to “give with a why,” which means a present should carry a story, whether it reminds him of the recipient, shows what they mean to him or opens up a chance for future connection. “If I give you something, I want a story behind it,” he said.

That's a bit different than his WWE years. “When I was full-time with WWE, the most important thing was literally covering my tracks for being a workaholic,”

Cena said, and big gifts were his way of covering for the time away. Now the focus has moved. “And now the most important thing for me is to be with those and connect with those I love,” he said.

His break also has a date attached. The inaugural John Cena Classic is scheduled for December 14, and Cena plans to take time off after it and not return until January.