WWE icon John Cena officially brought down the curtain on his in-ring career after losing to Gunther by submission in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Sunday. The 17-time world champion delivered a hard-hitting farewell in front of a packed Washington, DC crowd, closing a professional wrestling career that spanned more than two decades.
As Cena made his entrance, fans filled the arena with chants of “My Time Is Now.” Several of his longtime rivals and friends, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Mark Henry, watched from ringside as the match began.
Gunther opened the bout aggressively with stiff uppercuts and knife-edge chops. However, Cena soon responded with his trademark offence, showing flashes of the intensity that defined his career. Gunther halted that momentum with a German suplex, followed by a crushing powerbomb and a series of clotheslines.
One final goodbye.
Thank YOU, @JohnCena. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/hg8gNpbILG
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025Cena rallied again, delivering the Attitude Adjustment and briefly locking in a sleeper hold. Still, Gunther regained control when the fight spilt outside the ring. In a dramatic moment, Cena powered through and drove Gunther through the announce table with another Attitude Adjustment, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd.
Despite multiple near-falls and a top-rope leg drop, Cena hesitated for just a moment too long. Gunther capitalised with a brutal boot to the head and survived an avalanche Attitude Adjustment from the second rope. Eventually, Gunther applied his sleeper hold once more. After one final burst of resistance, Cena tapped out, symbolically “giving up” in his final match.
The Greatest of All Time.
Thank you, @JohnCena. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/xcXnKKdxFs
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025Following the bell, Cena stood in the ring soaking in the applause as WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk joined him, alongside Triple H and a host of WWE stars. Rhodes and Punk placed their championship belts over Cena’s shoulders, allowing him one final salute as a world champion.
Cena then removed his wristbands and boots, leaving them in the ring before walking up the ramp for the last time.
With the victory, Gunther etched his name into WWE history as the man who defeated John Cena in his final match. Already a former World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion, Gunther earned the opportunity by winning the Last Time Is Now tournament. The result further solidified his status as one of WWE’s dominant modern-era performers.
It's over.
Gunther taps out John Cena. pic.twitter.com/0O2lTpl3p1
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025John Cena retires as one of the most decorated superstars in WWE history. His résumé includes 17 world title reigns, 14 as WWE Champion and three as World Heavyweight Champion—along with United States and Intercontinental titles, multiple tag team championships, two Royal Rumble wins, and a Money in the Bank victory.
By capturing every major accolade, Cena became part of WWE’s elite Grand Slam club. Beyond titles, he headlined WrestleMania multiple times and remained a central figure of the company for nearly 20 years.
Read: John Cena’s Final WWE Match Announced
Cena’s retirement tour delivered memorable moments, including a darker title run at WrestleMania 41 and emotional matches against longtime rivals. His final year concluded with milestones, fanfare, and respect across the industry. With his loss to Gunther, Cena’s era as an active WWE competitor officially comes to an end.
