WWE legend John Cena has retired from professional wrestling, ending a 24-year in-ring career following his final match in Washington, D.C.
Cena bowed out at Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Capital One Arena, where he faced Gunther in his farewell bout. The 48-year-old was defeated after being forced to submit to a sleeper hold in a match that lasted just under 25 minutes.
The ending stunned fans inside the arena, as Cena — long known for rarely submitting during his career — tapped out for the first time. Supporters were visibly emotional as the veteran finally succumbed to Gunther’s hold despite loud chants urging him to continue.
After the match, several WWE superstars emerged from the locker room to pay tribute. Cena then left his wristbands and boots in the ring, a traditional symbol of retirement, before walking up the entrance ramp and offering a final salute to the crowd.
Cena retires as a 17-time world champion, the most title reigns officially recognised by WWE. He also headlined WrestleMania six times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in professional wrestling history.
He made his WWE debut in 2002 against Kurt Angle and initially struggled to establish himself before reinventing his career with the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, which propelled him to superstardom.
Beyond wrestling, Cena successfully transitioned into Hollywood, becoming one of the few WWE stars to achieve sustained success as a film actor.
Cena announced in July 2024 that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025. His farewell tour began at the Royal Rumble in January and included a rare heel turn earlier this year.
Speaking after the event, current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes praised Cena’s influence on the industry, describing him as a standard-setter who inspired generations of wrestlers.
