John Cena Ends 23‑Year WWE Career With Emotional Final Match Against Gunther
The retiring superstar was honored by the entire locker room after leaving his signature gear in the center of the ring as a final gesture.
Summary
- John Cena ended his 23‑year WWE career on December 13, 2025, losing by submission to Gunther in his final match
- Cena received a full locker‑room tribute and left his gear in the ring before shifting focus to Hollywood
John Cena, a WWE icon who served as the face of the company for more than a decade and achieved a record 17 World Championships, concluded his illustrious 23-year in-ring career on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Cena, who had announced his retirement at Money in the Bank in 2024 and completed a year-long farewell tour throughout 2025, headlined the WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. His opponent, determined by “The Last Time Is Now Tournament,” was the two-time World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther. In a memorable 23-minute match, Cena ultimately suffered a submission defeat, tapping out to Gunther’s sleeper hold.
The manner of defeat, a submission loss, was particularly symbolic, as Cena had only tapped out four times previously in his lengthy WWE career. The loss served to elevate Gunther, who had vowed to make the legend submit, granting him a decisive victory as Cena “did the honors” on his way out.
Following the final bell, Cena took a moment to soak in the atmosphere of the sold-out arena, before the entire locker room emerged to surround the ring, paying tribute to the departing legend. Cena, whose career was defined by the motto “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect,” left his sneakers and wrist bands in the ring as a final gesture. While Cena will now focus on his successful Hollywood career, his final wish for the event was to showcase the future talent of the business, with the card notably featuring rising stars from NXT and even a partner promotion, TNA.
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