John Cena has touched down in Australia ahead of WWE’s four-day Perth takeover, with fans preparing for his farewell appearance at Crown Jewel.
The 17-time world champion was seen in Sydney on Friday with his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, before heading west for Saturday’s main event at RAC Arena.
Shay Shariatzadeh, originally from Iran and now a Canadian engineer and product manager, has held technology roles at companies like Microsoft and Motorola Solutions.
\Cena will face long-time rival AJ Styles in what will be his final in-ring performance outside of the United States.
The bout is part of his The Last Time is Now Farewell Tour, which will end in December after more than two decades in the company.
WWE and Hollywood star John Cena and wife Shay Shariatzadeh touch down in Sydney on Friday
Cena will headline a WWE event in Perth this weekend as part of his farewell tour around the world
The iconic wrestler is a 17-time WWE champion and also fought Logan Paul earlier this year
Cena’s farewell tour has already featured numerous significant events. Earlier this year, he joined forces with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as a villain, reclaimed the WWE Undisputed Championship, and triumphed over Logan Paul in Paris.
He also reignited his feud with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, a reminder of the rivalries that defined his career.
Saturday’s contest in Perth is expected to be one of the last opportunities international audiences will have to see Cena compete live.
Adding to the excitement, WWE undisputed champion Cody Rhodes made a surprise appearance in Perth ahead of Crown Jewel.
Rhodes attended a meet-and-greet for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Starlight Foundation, stunning young fans and their families.
His unexpected arrival has fuelled anticipation for the event, which will also feature Seth Rollins and Australia’s Rhea Ripley.
This weekend’s lineup includes Friday Night SmackDown, Saturday’s Crown Jewel as the main attraction, and Monday Night Raw, marking WWE’s second trip to Perth in just over a year.
The city previously hosted Elimination Chamber at Optus Stadium in February 2024.
Cena is looking to focus more on his acting career after he retires from professional wrestling
Cody Rhodes has also made a shock appearance in Perth to meet with young WWE fans
Australia’s Rhea Ripley will also feature at the WWE event which will be held at RAC Arena
That event drew more than 18,000 visitors from outside Western Australia and generated over $36million for the local economy.
Officials expect Crown Jewel to deliver another major tourism and financial boost.
The WA government has actively supported the shows, citing the impact on both sports entertainment and the broader economy.
Cena, now 47, has been central to WWE’s global expansion since debuting in 2001.
He has held the world championship 17 times, headlined countless pay-per-views, and became the company’s leading figure during its modern era.
Apart from wrestling, he has pursued a Hollywood career, appearing in movies such as The Suicide Squad, Bumblebee, and Trainwreck, as well as the DC series Peacemaker.
He is also known for his philanthropic work, granting hundreds of wishes through his long-running association with Make-A-Wish.
In July 2024, Cena revealed his decision to retire from wrestling, due to the sport’s physical challenges and his wish to exit while still excelling.
His farewell tour has been billed as one of the biggest in WWE history, covering 30 to 40 events worldwide.
The run will officially conclude on December 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with speculation ongoing about who his final opponent will be.
Names such as Gunther, also known as ‘The Ring General,’ have been mentioned as possible contenders.
