Legendary wrestler John Cena officially brought the curtain down on an illustrious 23-year career after an emotional retirement match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII in Washington DC on Saturday night.
John Cena, the 17-time World Champion, concluded his wrestling career with a final bout against Gunther, losing the grueling 23-minute contest after being forced to tap out to a Sleeper Hold.
The match, part of his year-long “Last Time is Now” farewell tour, drew a roaring response from the Washington crowd when Cena made his iconic entrance.
Cena’s career has been marked by historic achievements, including 17 world titles and the creation of the legendary catchphrase, “You Can’t See Me.”
He made his professional wrestling debut in 1999 as “The Prototype” in Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) before joining WWE in 2001. Over the next decade, Cena became the face of the company, embodying the principles of “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” and inspiring fans with his “Never Give Up” mantra.
It’s over.
Gunther taps out John Cena. pic.twitter.com/0O2lTpl3p1
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025
Throughout his career, Cena captured 14 WWE Championships, three World Heavyweight Championships, five United States Championships, four Tag Team Championships, and one Intercontinental Championship, earning the distinction of Grand Slam Champion. He also won the Royal Rumble twice (2008 and 2013) and the Money in the Bank ladder match in 2012, competing in over 2,200 matches with a winning percentage of 78.6%.
Beyond the ring, Cena has built a successful acting career since his debut in 2006 with The Marine. He has gained recognition for both action and comedic roles, including starring as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad (2021) and the spin-off series Peacemaker (2022–present), playing Agent Jack Burns in Bumblebee (2018), and portraying Jakob Toretto in F9: The Fast Saga (2021).
He has also earned praise for his performances in comedies such as Trainwreck (2015) and Blockers (2018).
