In a night that blended nostalgia with the dawning of a new generation, John Cena, one of the greatest and most influential superstars in WWE history, wrestled his final match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event on Saturday, December 13, 2025. In a stunning and polarizing finish, Cena, renowned for his "Never Give Up" motto, lost to Gunther via submission in the main event at the Capital One Arena. The Match: A Valiant Effort Ends in Defeat The 23-minute, 45-second match was a brutal and emotional war that saw Cena, at 48 years old, push his body to its limits in a final effort. Chants of "Thank You Cena" and "Let's Go Cena, Cena Sucks" filled the arena as he showcased his signature moves one last time. The contest featured several high-impact moments, including a sequence where Cena put Gunther through the announce table with an Attitude Adjustment (AA). However, the resilient Gunther kicked out of Cena's best shots, including an Avalanche AA from the middle rope. The ending came when Gunther locked in a relentless sleeper hold; after a valiant struggle, Cena accepted his fate, smiled, and tapped out. This was Cena's first submission loss since 2004, a finish that polarized the live audience but was seen by many as Cena's final act of putting over a new star, Gunther, on his way out.
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The Farewell: A Salute to the Fans Following the final bell, the atmosphere in the arena shifted from shock and boos (directed at the booking, not the performer) to an outpouring of respect and emotion. The entire WWE locker room, from rookies to champions like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, emptied onto the stage and ringside area to honor "The Greatest of All Time". A career retrospective video package, featuring tributes from a slew of celebrities and wrestling legends, aired, bringing a visibly emotional Cena to tears. In a final, symbolic gesture, Cena removed his signature armbands and shoes, leaving them in the center of the ring, a traditional sign of retirement in wrestling. He then walked up the ramp for the last time, turned, and gave a final salute to the crowd, saying, "It's been a pleasure serving you for all these years". Though his in-ring career is over, Cena is expected to remain connected to the company in a non-wrestling, ambassadorial role, leaving behind a legacy built on hustle, loyalty, and respect, as well as a record-setting 17 world championships and over 650 Make-A-Wish grants.
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