WWE legend John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling, concluding a remarkable 24-year career after his final match at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Cena’s farewell took place during Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced Gunther in a highly anticipated bout. The 48-year-old veteran was defeated after submitting to a sleeper hold, bringing an emotional end to one of the most decorated careers in WWE history.
The Historic Submission
Fans watched in stunned silence as Gunther held Cena in the submission move through the final moments. When Cena finally tapped out, it marked a highly significant and emotional moment, as it was the first time he had ever submitted in his entire career. Following the loss, Cena left his wristbands and boots behind in the ring, the traditional symbol of retirement, before making a final salute to the audience.
Legacy and Final Tour Highlights
Cena retires as a 17-time world champion, holding the most title reigns recognized by WWE. He headlined WrestleMania six times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. His iconic “You Can’t See Me” catchphrase remains one of the most recognized slogans in sports entertainment.
His farewell tour, which began at the Royal Rumble in January, was marked by dramatic twists:
- Heel Turn: He shocked fans by turning heel—adopting a villain persona—for the first time since 2003 at Elimination Chamber in March.
- Record-Breaking Title: He won his record-breaking 17th world title by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania in April, before dropping the title back to Rhodes at SummerSlam in August.
From Thuganomics to Hollywood
Cena debuted in WWE in 2002 and later found massive success after adopting the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, a freestyle-rap character that quickly made him a fan favourite. Beyond the ring, Cena carved out a successful Hollywood career, becoming one of the few WWE stars to achieve sustained success as a film actor.
Current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes struggled to contain his emotions when reflecting on Cena’s legacy: “It’s just still like, when it’s that good you don’t want it to end and I know that’s vague but he did everything by the book and taught so many people and set such a high standard, such a high bar.”
The Greatest of All Time.
Thank you, @JohnCena. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/xcXnKKdxFs
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025
Source: WWE
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