"I'm so fuc*ing proud of you" - John Cena sends heartfelt message to 40-year-old WWE star; thanks him for his hard work in the industry

The Franchise Player John Cena marked his retirement from in-ring competition last weekend at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, and fans have still not been able to stop talking about the incredible career he has had. The 17-time World Champion has proved why he is dubbed the Greatest of All Time with his Retirement Tour and his efforts to put over the future of the company.

Following retirement, Cena broke his silence for the first time by appearing as a guest on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? Podcast. The Franchise Player thanked Rhodes for all the hard work he has been doing as the face of the company, juggling everything from in-ring appearances to media to autograph signings.

Further, the Undisputed WWE Champion also extended the podcast episode by 35 minutes to give John Cena all the time he needed, despite his unimaginable schedule, which led Cena to express his gratitude to the star. He stated that he was proud of Rhodes and what the latter has been doing.

“I want to thank you because you are going nose-to-nose and you go as hard, in some cases harder than I can imagine. Your work ethic is aspirational…You’re a family man. A dedicated father. A wonderful husband. You've got people to support and that support you. And sometimes that helps, but, like, you are juggling so much more than I ever possibly could. So, thank you for overstaying [on the podcast episode]. You gave me another 35 minutes. It’s not lost on me. And a lot of me wanting to milk this is just, I miss my friend, and I wanted a conversation with my friend. I love you, too. Thanks so much for this time. And man, you’re doing it. You’re doing it. And I’m so f*cking proud of you,” said Cena during his appearance.

What’s next for Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown?

After his massive loss in the Men’s WarGames match, Cody Rhodes is back to square one, continuing his rivalry with Drew McIntyre on the blue brand.

Both men have been announced to collide for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line, but the match date has not been made official yet. It is also confirmed that Drew McIntyre will choose the stipulation for the match, and only time will tell what WWE has planned for them ahead of the New Year.