WWE icon John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling, closing the chapter on a remarkable 24-year in-ring career following his final match on Saturday at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Cena’s farewell came at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced Gunther in his last bout. The 48-year-old was defeated after submitting to a sleeper hold in a match that lasted just under 25 minutes, bringing an end to one of the most celebrated careers in WWE history.
Fans inside the arena watched in stunned silence as Gunther maintained the hold in the closing moments, despite loud chants urging Cena to keep fighting.
When Cena finally tapped out, emotions ran high, with some supporters visibly in tears. The finish shocked many, as Cena—famously known for never tapping out—submitted for the first time in his career.
After the bell, members of the WWE locker room emerged to honour him. Cena then left his wristbands and boots in the ring, a traditional symbol of retirement, before walking up the ramp, pausing to offer a final salute to the crowd and cameras.
Cena retires as a record 17-time world champion, the most title reigns recognised by WWE. He headlined WrestleMania six times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
His trademark “You Can’t See Me” catchphrase became one of the most iconic slogans in sports entertainment.
He debuted in WWE in 2002 in a loss to Kurt Angle and initially struggled to break through as a singles star.
His career took off after adopting the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, delivering freestyle rap promos that quickly made him a fan favourite.
Beyond wrestling, Cena successfully transitioned into Hollywood, becoming one of the few WWE stars to achieve lasting success as a film actor.
Cena announced at the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event on July 6, 2024, that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025.
His retirement tour began at the Royal Rumble in January, where he was eliminated by Jey Uso. He later stunned fans by turning heel for the first time since 2003 at Elimination Chamber on March 1.
He went on to capture his record-breaking 17th world title by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania in April, before dropping both the title and his villain persona back to Rhodes at SummerSlam in August.
A tournament was later held to determine his final opponent, with Gunther earning the honour.
Speaking after the event, current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes struggled to contain his emotions as he reflected on Cena’s immense impact on the sport.