The legendary career of American WWE superstar John Cena came to an end on Sunday following his final match against Austrian champion Gunther, marking the close of one of the most iconic eras in professional wrestling.
Weeks earlier, Cena had announced his intention to retire after a storied career spanning more than 20 years.
He competed in WWE for 23 years and is widely regarded by many fans as the greatest wrestler of all time, having won the World Championship a record 17 times.
Cena faced Gunther in Saturday night’s main event in Washington, where he suffered a rare and shocking submission loss, the first time in his career he had ever lost by submission.
The moment drew comparisons to historic WWE shocks, including the end of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak.
Following the match, Cena left his boots and armbands in the ring, a symbolic gesture signaling his retirement. Overcome with emotion, he exited the ring to a massive standing ovation from the crowd.
The event was filled with deeply emotional moments for fans of wrestling and John Cena around the world. The arena was packed with WWE Hall of Famers and current superstars who shared the ring with Cena throughout his journey, including CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Trish Stratus, Eve Torres, Michelle McCool, The Undertaker, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, and Mark Henry.
.@SamiZayn is a vibe right now 🤣 👋 pic.twitter.com/KSoTU5igaP
— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2025
STILL NOT OVER THIS #EVETORRES #SNME #THANKYOUCENA pic.twitter.com/28Y9ZUxCIx
— Vin (@WhoisVindictive) December 14, 2025
In a powerful tribute, all WWE superstars came out to honor Cena in the ring.
Current world champions CM Punk and Cody Rhodes handed their championship belts to Cena, allowing him to hold the world titles one final time before the curtain fell on his legendary career. A moment Hulk Hogan had back in 2005.
There will never be another John Cena. pic.twitter.com/mPIMtbJ9qk
— Finesse (@ProWFinesse) December 14, 2025
John Cena’s name topped global trending lists, including in several Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. The hashtag #ThankYouCena trended worldwide on X (formerly Twitter) for several hours.
Furthermore, several NFL, NBA, and football clubs across the world paid tribute to Cena, such as the Saudi Al Hilal and Serie A sides Lazio, Juventus, and Parma.
WWE aired multiple tribute video packages highlighting Cena’s career, iconic moments, and fellow wrestlers honoring him by recreating his famous gestures.
One of the most notable appearances came from Vince McMahon, former WWE owner and chairman, who appeared for the first time in an official WWE-related segment since his complete departure from the company last year.
😔❤️ https://t.co/KSInoO3Jl1 pic.twitter.com/WIKWZIS8JI
— أبو يحيى (@MohdHBK_1978) December 14, 2025
Veteran commentator Michael Cole delivered a heartbreaking line that resonated with fans: “Professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment,” referencing Gunther’s submission victory over Cena.
#ThankYouCena pic.twitter.com/D5F5eSF4DB
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025
Despite the tributes, Cena’s final loss sparked widespread backlash among fans. Hundreds of thousands expressed anger over the way his career ended, with many calling the retirement tour disappointing, a sentiment Cena himself had hinted at in interviews prior to his final match.
Criticism was directed heavily toward Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer and head of creative, who was booed loudly when he appeared after the show.
Some fans reportedly chanted insults at him inside the arena.
WWE FANS ARE CHANTING “A-E-W! A-E-W! A-E-W!” AT TRIPLE H LMFAOOOOOOO OH MY GOD #SNME pic.twitter.com/HFHJV7aSzj
— Self Made AO 💫 (@KXNGAO) December 14, 2025
Gunther also faced limited crowd unrest while leaving the venue, prompting the presence of additional security.
WWE FANS BOO AND YELL F*CK YOU GUNTHER AS HE EXITS THE ARENA
EXTRA SECURITY HAD TO BE DEPLOYED.
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) December 14, 2025
Before leaving the ring, Cena addressed the crowd one last time, saying:
“It has been my honor to serve you all these years. Thank you so much.”
Recurring injuries and years of physical strain were cited as key reasons behind his decision to retire.
Outside WWE, John Cena has built a successful acting career, starring in major films such as Trainwreck, Bumblebee, The Suicide Squad, and the Fast & Furious franchise, cementing his legacy not only as a wrestling icon, but as a global entertainment star.
John Cena leaves WWE as a symbol of loyalty, resilience, and greatness, an era that fans will remember forever.
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