Washington, December 14, 2025: Veteran WWE superstar John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling following a poignant defeat to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena.
The 17-time World Champion delivered a highly competitive performance, trading momentum with Gunther throughout the match. Cena executed three Attitude Adjustments, including a dramatic top-rope variation, and even drove Gunther through the announce table. Despite his offensive onslaught, Cena was ultimately forced to submit to Gunther’s sleeper hold after multiple escape attempts.
The evening was a star-studded spectacle, featuring WWE legends and celebrities ringside, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Trish Stratus, Eve Torres, and others. Video tributes paid homage to Cena from iconic figures such as The Undertaker, The Rock, and sports stars Tom Brady and Jalen Brunson.
Gunther made the first entrance, followed by a thunderous ovation for Cena. Notably, the usual “Cena sucks” chant was replaced entirely by cheers of support. Cena even grabbed a camera to film himself before sprinting to the ring and greeting the legends at ringside.
After the match, an emotional Cena addressed the crowd with a simple, heartfelt statement: “That’s all I’ve got.” Wrestlers from the locker room flooded the ring in tribute, with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes placing their championship belts on Cena’s shoulders. He shared an emotional embrace with Triple H before a final tribute video played.
Cena concluded the night by walking up the entrance ramp, saluting the crowd, and exiting the arena for the last time, closing the chapter on a legendary wrestling career that spanned more than two decades.
