WWE legend John Cena has retired from professional wrestling, bringing the curtain down on a 24-year in-ring career after his final match at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
Cena bowed out at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced Gunther in his farewell bout.
The 48-year-old was defeated after being forced to submit to a sleeper hold in a contest that lasted just under 25 minutes, ending one of the most decorated careers in WWE history.
Fans inside the arena watched in disbelief as Gunther relentlessly kept Cena locked in the hold during the closing moments of the match, despite loud chants urging the veteran to fight on.
When Cena eventually tapped out, some supporters were seen in tears.
The ending stunned fans, as Cena, long known for never tapping out during his career, was forced to submit for the first time, finally giving in to Gunther’s sleeper hold.
After the bell rang, wrestlers from the WWE locker room emerged to honour him.
Cena then left his wristbands and boots in the ring — a traditional sign of retirement — before walking up the entrance ramp, turning back and offering a final salute to the crowd and cameras.
Cena retires as a 17-time world champion, the most title reigns recognised by WWE.
He also headlined WrestleMania on six occasions and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
His trademark “You Can’t See Me” catchphrase became one of the most recognisable slogans in sports entertainment.
He debuted in WWE in 2002, losing to Kurt Angle, and initially struggled to establish himself as a singles star.
His career turned around after he adopted the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, a character known for freestyle rap promos, which quickly made him a fan favourite.
Beyond wrestling, Cena successfully crossed over into Hollywood, becoming one of the few WWE stars to enjoy sustained success as a film actor.
Cena had announced at the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event on July 6, 2024, that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025.
His retirement tour officially began at the Royal Rumble in January, where he was eliminated by Jey Uso.
He later shocked fans by turning heel — a villain persona — for the first time since 2003 at Elimination Chamber on March 1.
Cena went on to win his record-breaking 17th world title by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania in April, before dropping both the title and the villainous persona to Rhodes at SummerSlam in August.
A tournament was subsequently organised to determine Cena’s final opponent, with Gunther emerging winner and earning the right to face him at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Speaking after the event, current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes struggled to hold back his emotions as he reflected on Cena’s impact.
”“It’s just still like, when it’s that good you don’t want it to end and I know that’s vague but he did everything by the book and taught so many people and set such a high standard, such a high bar,” Rhodes said.
