Cena competed in his farewell bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Capital One Arena, where he faced Gunther. The 48-year-old was defeated after submitting to a sleeper hold in a match that lasted just under 25 minutes. The finish shocked fans, as Cena, known for his resilience, tapped out for the first time in his career.
The arena was filled with emotional scenes as supporters chanted for Cena to continue. After the match, several WWE superstars came to the ring to pay tribute. Cena then placed his wristbands and boots in the ring, a traditional sign of retirement, before walking up the ramp and saluting the crowd one final time.
Cena retires as a 17-time world champion, the most officially recognised title reigns in WWE history. He headlined WrestleMania six times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest performers the sport has produced.
He made his WWE debut in 2002 against Kurt Angle and rose to prominence after reinventing himself with the “Doctor of Thuganomics” character, which launched him to superstardom.
In recent years, Cena successfully transitioned into Hollywood, becoming one of the most successful crossover stars from professional wrestling.
Cena had announced in July 2024 that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025. His farewell tour began at the Royal Rumble in January and included a rare heel turn earlier this year.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes later praised Cena, calling him a standard-setter whose influence inspired generations of wrestlers.
