Following the 2025 Royal Rumble, in which Cena was the runner-up, he announced his participation in the Men's Elimination Chamber match. Presumably, WWE will follow the same format as last year and have the winner earn a championship match at WrestleMania 41.

Cena cut a well-received promo on Raw's 6 January Netflix debut. At the start of his retirement year in wrestling, Cena ran through his career - from his early spell as OVW's prototype to the present day - then referenced breaking the record he currently shares with Ric Flair (in WWE canon) and winning a 17th World Championship.