It’s over—John Cena is officially a retired WWE Superstar, his final match a shocking defeat that left fans stunned.
Cena, 17-time World Champion, is viewed as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time—Cena’s charisma and unbreakable spirit has inspired legions of fans across the WWE and beyond.
At Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, Cena faced former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther (Walter Hahn) for his retirement match.
Cena suffered a historic loss, much to the dismay of fans.
How Did John Cena’s Final Match End?
Despite his iconic “Never Give Up” slogan, Cena lost to Gunther via submission, after being repeatedly locked in a sleeper hold.
Cena ended his long, celebrated career in the ring by tapping out, marking Cena’s first submission loss in 20 years, his final match a surprise twist, and a brutal defeat.
Some fans viewed Cena’s submission as a bad ending that went against his character, and many were bitterly disappointed, furiously posting their thoughts on social media.
While Gunther was the heel who broke John Cena, most of the anger was directed at Paul “Triple H” Levesque, with fans criticizing the booking of the final match and the dramatic, downer ending.
A hug between Cena and Levesque drew loud boos from the crowd, but Cena did manage to conclude his time in the ring on a positive note, earnestly thanking the audience for their support.
“It’s been a pleasure serving you all these years,” Cena said. “Thank you.”
While many fans were disappointed to see Cena, the face of hope, end his story by finally giving up, others appreciated the emotional weight of the decision.
Cena’s tragic ending might have been subversive, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected—before the match, on Monday Night Raw, Gunther boasted that he was going to force Cena to tap out (although, few fans believed him at the time).
Cena ended his career by elevating the status of Gunther, leaving the spotlight open for a new generation of WWE performers.
While this is the last time viewers will see Cena in the ring, it’s certainly not the last time he’ll be seen on screen (or even in the WWE).
Cena is a household name and blockbuster star, one of the greatest Hollywood success stories to have emerged from pro wrestling—in fact, Cena is so recognizable that he often cameos as himself (most recently, Cena appeared in Vince Gilligan’s sci-fi series Pluribus).
The New York Times described Cena as “perhaps the last of the monocultural, crossover stars, following the likes of Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and the Rock.”
Is Cena Really Done With The WWE?
While Cena is retired from the ring, he isn’t quite done with the WWE yet, having signed a new five-year deal to stay on as brand ambassador.
“It’s not my time to perform anymore,” Cena said. “I have a bunch of strengths and gifts that I can pass on. I’m looking forward to the second mountain of being an ambassador.”
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