John Cena retires after final WWE match in emotional farewell

John Cena’s in-ring WWE career officially ended on Saturday night at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., bringing down the curtain on more than two decades at the top of professional wrestling.

The farewell headlined the final WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025 and delivered a definitive, emotional conclusion to one of the industry’s most influential careers.

Cena bows out against Gunther

Cena’s last match saw him submit to Gunther after a punishing, near 24-minute main event that blended intensity, respect and finality.

The crowd remained fully invested throughout, rallying behind Cena in the hope of a last-gasp victory that never came.

While the result shocked many in attendance, the post-match atmosphere quickly shifted to appreciation as Cena addressed the crowd, surrounded by WWE talent and staff.

WWE showcases the future

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes faced NXT Champion Oba Femi in the opening bout, but interference from Drew McIntyre led to a disqualification finish.

Despite the short runtime, Femi emerged as a clear winner in perception, making him a future main-event player.

Meanwhile, Sol Ruca delivered one of the standout performances of the night, defeating Bayley in a result that felt less like an upset and more like a statement.

Her athletic offence and confidence marked her as a rising force in the women’s division.

High-octane tag action before the finale

The final match before Cena’s farewell featured World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee against Je’Von Evans and TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater.

Despite the difficult slot ahead of the main event, the bout delivered action and kept the crowd engaged.

End of an era, start of another

Cena exits WWE having helped elevate the company to new commercial heights, while deliberately leaving the spotlight to the next wave of stars.