Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self)

Ever since he stepped into the ring with Kurt Angle for the first time on World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE’s) SmackDown and declared his ruthless aggression in 2002, John Cena has been a staple in the world of professional wrestling.

When the word “wrestling” is mentioned in any capacity, the first name that comes to mind for fans and non-fans alike is usually going to be that of John Cena. His name is synonymous with sports entertainment, and for good reason. Even after taking breaks from wrestling to pursue a career in Hollywood, Cena always paid his respects to the place that built him. Cena has had at least one match every year since his debut, but that all began to come to an end at July 2024’s ‘Money In The Bank’ premium live event. Cena came out to a record setting crowd and announced that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025. 

Since Jan. 6, 2025, John Cena has been a regular superstar on WWE’s programming. This is because instead of having one last match at the end of 2025, he felt he owed it to the fans to have a retirement tour that spanned throughout the entire year. This tour began at the ‘Royal Rumble’ event on Feb. 1, 2025, and ended on Dec. 13, 2025, at the ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ premium live event. Between then, Cena won the ‘Royal Rumble’, beat Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed Championship in the main event of ‘WrestleMania 41′ and won the Intercontinental Championship among many other career-defining accolades. 

While Cena was having his final career run as a full time superstar, there was one question at the back of everyone’s mind. Who would he face as his final opponent on Dec. 13?

To solve this dilemma, WWE and Cena came up with ‘The Last Time Is Now’ tournament. This tournament would give the opportunity of a lifetime to all who wanted to compete for it. Superstars both past and present fought for the chance to end John Cena’s career and gave us some spectacular, classic matches while doing so. Newer superstars, such as LA Knight and Solo Sikoa, competed in the tournament against wrestlers who no longer work for the WWE, like Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler. Everyone was welcome to compete for this opportunity and everyone who could did. However, there could only be one who would win the entire tournament.

That force of nature would turn out to be the current crushing force in the WWE today; the man goes by one name and one name only: “The Ring General,”Gunther. After blowing through every opponent he had and winning the tournament, it was decided that Gunther would be the last opponent for John Cena. This easily worried fans across the board because Gunther isn’t known for losing. His dominating power would give Cena the ultimate challenge for his final match. To put the final nail in the coffin of hope for Cena’s chances of winning, Gunther promised that he would make the leader of the Cenation give up.

On Dec. 13, 2025, at 7 p.m, the 42nd episode of ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ was broadcast for the entire world to see. The theme was based around John Cena’s final match and featured multiple superstars, both past and present, paying their respects to who many consider to be the G.O.A.T. After some entertaining preliminary matches, the main event was upon us. John Cena had to get over the hill that was Gunther.

As the match began, it was Gunther’s game from the opening bell. He was dominating Cena with heavy blows and large, unbelievable chops to the chest. However, Cena began to rally against Gunther. He relied on his classic “Five Moves of Doom” and the STF submission hold to whittle Gunther down, but it just wasn’t enough. For everything Cena had, Gunther just had more. There were chants of “Let’s Go Cena” and “SuperCena” throughout the entire night and Cena certainly heard them. It seemed as if the fans’ energy powered Cena up like a Dragon Ball Z character. Cena and Gunther fought their hardest, even destroying the announcer’s table at one point. After this, a series of events lead Gunther up to the top rope for his signature splash attack. Cena was able to stop this and complete an upgraded version of his finishing move called the “Avalanche Attitude Adjustment.” This is a massive attack that has put away larger opponents of Cena in the past like Mark Henry and the Big Show. 

It felt like this was it. As fans waited with baited breath for Cena to get the final pin, Gunther kicked out at a two-count. The match then entered its last segment. Gunther ended up wrapping his python-like arms around Cena’s neck with the Gojira Clutch, his finishing submission. As Cena tried to escape, it was all futile. The fans continued to cheer, chant and shout for Cena until he broke through. This never happened, though. No matter how hard Cena fought, Gunther squeezed harder. Just then, as Cena smiled one last time, he tapped out. 

Just like that, it was over. John Cena had lost his final match. Gunther did exactly what he promised and definitively ended the G.O.A.T’s career. Gunther smiled and reveled in the shower of boos that he received from the crowd. There were tears from almost every fan there. The twenty plus career of a legend ended with a loss. Superstars, cameramen and producers flooded out from the back and surrounded the ring to give Cena his flowers. They clapped for him, gave him hugs and shook his hand. Not only was Cena congratulated, but he received the ultimate honor from both the World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk, and the Undisputed Champion, Cody Rhodes. Punk and Rhodes gave Cena their titles and allowed him to parade them around the ring one last time. As the show began to close, Cena took one final look at the stacked crowd and left. 

While Cena’s final match ended in a loss, we can’t forget the wonderful career that he had. He entertained fans throughout the entire 21st century and had unforgettable moments and rivalries during it. Simply put, Cena was a very large reason that the WWE stayed afloat after losing some of its biggest stars of the previous Attitude Era. His charisma, athleticism, kind nature and dedication are the reasons for his global success in any medium he participates in. John Cena is a shining example that if everyone has even a little hustle, loyalty and respect, then we can’t possibly ever lose.

So for one last time, thank you, Cena.