John Cena is arguably the greatest WWE superstar of all time, but even the greats have to think about calling it a day at some point.

2019 was a big year for Cena in WWE, as it was the first year in the past 17 years that he hadn't worked a match on a pay-per-view.

It's clear The Leader of the Cenation has taken a step back from the ring in order to focus on other projects, but recently he got serious about what he has left to give to WWE.

Citing the 2008 movie 'The Wrestler', the 16-time world champion said he doesn't want to become greedy, something that he sees a lot in the sports entertainment industry.

Cena said during an interview with Collider: “Dude, all this stuff is great, but if it all stops tomorrow, I’m still okay with me. I know the good things that define me and I know the qualities I have as a human being. I’m going to move on and go forward.

"I know that all this is borrowed. I’m just grateful to have it and grateful to be able to contribute. I don’t want to be greedy as a performer and I see that a lot in sports entertainment.

"The movie The Wrestler was centered around a guy who can’t let go. I’m being a s***** human being because I can’t let go of this thing. I invested my life in that company and then there’s no one, whether they like my performance or not, that will argue that.

"I think after the extended period of time that I put in, it’s okay for me to take a step back and reflect and be like, “Okay, I need to have more than that in my life because if that’s all that defines me, that’s a depreciating asset.”

"Every sunset that happens, I get a little slower and a little older and a little slower and a little older and it’s eventually going to end.”

Cena continued: “That’s been three years of hard conversations with that dude looking back in the mirror and I’m at peace with where it’s at. I want to contribute where I can. I’ve even talked about coaching or mentoring.

"Like I said, it’s the environment I feel the most fluid, so I can sit down and talk to you about WWE as long as you want to talk, but what I don’t want to do is take somebody who has spent 50 bucks on a ticket for themselves, their partner, their families, they bought souvenirs, they bought popcorn and paid for parking and have look at me like, ‘He used to be something.’ You know?”

It's clear Cena wants to hang up his wrestling gear before his body forces him to, which is a quality many wrestling fans respect in a wrestler.

With rumours swirling that he wants to have a substantial role at WrestleMania 36, many fans will be hoping Cena has one last hurrah in the ring before retiring and riding off into the sunset.