John Cena says he will not apologise for friendship with Vince McMahon

John Cena reaffirmed his friendship with former WWE CEO Vince McMahon in a recent interview with The Guardian and said he has “no guilt nor shame” about staying in contact with the former boss. Cena’s comments were published after his final WWE match, a bout with Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Cena told The Guardian he does not regret his personal relationship with McMahon and is not prepared to apologise for it, describing McMahon as a person who helped build his career. He framed the issue as one of separating personal ties from the allegations against McMahon, and he has previously been criticised for publicly expressing love and respect for the former chairman. Cena has also said that his affection for McMahon does not “exonerate” him.

The allegations against McMahon stem from a 2024 lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, which included accusations of sexual assault and sex trafficking among other forms of misconduct. McMahon has denied those accusations. The federal lawsuit was thrown out and the parties were permitted to arbitrate their claims privately, leading to the matter being handled through arbitration.

Cena emphasised that his stance should not be read as a defense of McMahon’s alleged conduct but as his right to maintain a personal relationship: “Have no guilt nor shame about my friendship and my relationship with Vince McMahon,” Cena stated. He said it is possible to love people despite their imperfections, a view he has expressed in prior comments about McMahon.

Cena characterised McMahon not only as a former employer but also as a mentor who influenced his professional development, and he noted McMahon never asked him to “turn heel”, appreciating the character Cena developed over his career. Those remarks form part of Cena’s broader explanation of why he continues to acknowledge McMahon’s role in his life while not attempting to intervene in or adjudicate the accusations against him.

There were no specifics provided about any return to regular in-ring competition; the interview noted there are no details about a Cena comeback, though the piece said the megastar could make surprise appearances at main events. For now, Cena’s comments leave his personal relationship with McMahon intact while the legal matters between McMahon and his accusers remain subject to private arbitration.