John Cena’s Wrestling Career Comes to a Close

John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling.

During his last match against Gunter, held in front of 19,232 fans at Capital One Arena for Saturday Night Main Event, Cena tapped out while caught in a sleeper hold.

Over the course of the match, Cena managed to break free from Gunter’s signature moves, even landing his final Attitude Adjustment finisher. However, Gunter countered and took him down for the sixth time. Worn out, Cena ultimately clapped his hands, signaling his surrender.

Cena, now 48, has only been pinned four times throughout his impressive 23-year tenure in WWE, with his last pin coming from Kurt Angle in 2004.

Part of Michael Cole’s commentary included the line, “Professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment tonight.”

Post-match, the locker room emptied as wrestlers Cody Rhodes and CM Punk presented Cena with the world title for the last time, dubbing him “the last true world champion.”

The reaction from the crowd in Washington, D.C., was mixed, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome.

The audience chanted “Bulls!” and “You suck!” upon Triple H’s arrival, and he faced boos while hugging Cena.

Nevertheless, Cena received a warm farewell, bowing to the crowd after the match and leaving behind his sneakers and wristband in the ring.

Before exiting, he took a final bow at the entrance and shared a heartfelt message: “It has been an honor to serve you for many years, thank you.”

Gunter, a two-time world heavyweight champion, had previously defeated Bill Goldberg in his retirement match this past summer and aimed to make Cena tap out in what turned out to be Cena’s final bout.

There’s speculation that Cena might get a significant push from the company post-retirement. Gunter has yet to hold the Undisputed WWE Championship.

In an interview, Gunter talked about opportunities in China that could elevate his status in the organization.

“That makes sense. I think it can be done,” he remarked, mentioning that he believes his time in the ring will speak for itself.

This loss marks the end of one of the greatest careers in wrestling, punctuating Cena’s year-long retirement tour that featured 36 appearances and 15 matches filled with memorable moments.

Cena had a notable heel turn at Elimination Chamber for the first time in 20 years, captured the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, passed the torch during SummerSlam, and earned the Grand Slam Championship in Boston against Dominik Mysterio. Some fans might see his brief return as a disappointment, yet there’s potential for a meaningful rivalry with Randy Orton and CM Punk.

For over two decades, Cena has been the face of WWE, his mantra of “Hard Work, Loyalty, Respect” resonating with fans across generations.

Outside the ring, he has made history with over 600 Make-A-Wish requests fulfilled, the most ever.

Wrestling legends such as Trish Stratus, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle were among those who attended. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were also present.

Cena has made it clear that he won’t return to wrestling or scout for new talent. His signature jorts, collared shirt, and cap will be retired alongside him as he transitions to an ambassador role for WWE.

Though his final moments may have come, Cena’s legacy will endure as one of the all-time greats in wrestling history.

Saturday Night Main Event Results

• The match between NXT Champion Obi Femi and Cody Rhodes ended in disqualification after Drew McIntyre attacked Femi from the crowd. Although Femi dominated, he was left without a victory.
• Sol Luka emerged victorious against Bayley in an exciting match. After hitting the Sol Snatcher finisher, Luka had to bring Bayley back into the ring to secure the win.
• AJ Styles and Dragon Lee defeated Leon Slater and Jevon Evans in a fast-paced match. Styles appeared to execute his Phenomenal Forearm, but after a near pinfall, he countered and took Evans down for the victory.
• The Miz made a surprise appearance, expressing disappointment at not having faced Cena during his retirement tour. He faced R-Truth (Ron Cena) and was ultimately defeated by Truth and Joe Hendry.