- The dramatic ending was followed by a touching tribute, as members of the WWE locker room emerged to honour him
- The outcome left fans stunned inside the packed arena, as chants echoed in a desperate bid to see the veteran rally once more
- Cena had earlier announced in July 2024 that he would retire from active competition at the end of 2025
Professional wrestling icon John Cena has officially stepped away from in-ring competition, closing the chapter on a remarkable 24-year career following his final appearance at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the farewell moment came during Saturday Night’s Main Event, where the 48-year-old squared off against Gunther in his last WWE bout.
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The contest lasted nearly 25 minutes before Cena was forced to submit after being trapped in a sleeper hold.
The outcome left fans stunned inside the packed arena, as chants echoed in a desperate bid to see the veteran rally once more. Many supporters were visibly emotional when Cena finally tapped out, marking the first submission loss of his storied career.
The dramatic ending was followed by a touching tribute, as members of the WWE locker room emerged to honour him. Cena then placed his wristbands and boots at the centre of the ring — a symbolic farewell before walking up the ramp, pausing to salute the crowd one final time.
Cena exits the sport as a 17-time world champion, a record recognised by WWE, and a six-time WrestleMania headliner. Widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in sports entertainment, his “You Can’t See Me” slogan became a defining phrase of an era.
He began his WWE journey in 2002 with a loss to Kurt Angle but later reinvented himself through the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, a move that propelled him to superstardom. Beyond wrestling, Cena also carved out a successful acting career in Hollywood.
Cena had earlier announced in July 2024 that he would retire from active competition at the end of 2025. His farewell tour included appearances at the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania, and SummerSlam, before Gunther earned the right to face him in his final match.
Reacting after the event, current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes described Cena’s impact as unmatched, admitting it was difficult to accept that such a legendary run had come to an end.
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