John Cena is scheduled to compete in his final professional wrestling match on Saturday night in Washington D.C., marking the conclusion of his WWE career. The event follows the "The Last Time Is Now" tournament, in which 16 wrestlers participated to determine Cena's final opponent. Gunther, a former world heavyweight champion, emerged as the winner of this tournament and will face Cena.
Career Overview
Cena debuted in WWE in 2002 and has since accumulated 17 world titles. He is also known for his catchphrase "You Can't See Me."
Event Details
The "WWE Saturday Night's Main Event" is scheduled to begin at 01:00 GMT on Sunday, December 14th. The event will be available for free viewing in the UK on WWE's official YouTube channel. Internationally, it can be accessed via Netflix, and in the US, through Peacock. The final match between Cena and Gunther is reportedly without a time limit and will be broadcast on streaming platforms rather than terrestrial television.
Professional Impact and Evolution
Throughout his career, Cena's wrestling persona evolved from a "ruthless aggression" rookie to the "Doctor of Thuganomics," eventually settling on a heroic character associated with the "Never Give Up" motto.
Brandon Thurston, editor and owner of Wrestlenomics, characterized Cena as an "exceptional wrestling talent" despite some fan criticism regarding his in-ring abilities. Thurston noted that WWE became increasingly scripted from 2005 onwards, transitioning into a PG era. Cena was identified as the company's primary draw between approximately 2005 and 2015, contributing significantly to pay-per-view buys, television ratings, and merchandise sales. Thurston also indicated a decline in WWE product ratings when Cena began reducing his schedule in 2015. Other wrestling experts have suggested Cena's continued presence contributed to mitigating a downward trend in WWE ratings, which saw average viewership for its weekly Raw program decrease by one million between 2010 and 2015, reaching 3.7 million viewers, according to PWtorch analysis.
Dr. Gillian Brooks, associate professor in marketing at King's Business School, highlighted Cena's development of an authentic personal brand beyond his wrestling career.
Public Engagement and Endorsements
Cena has partnered with brands such as Neutrogena, advocating for sunscreen use after revealing he had skin cancer spots. He holds a Guinness World Record for granting over 650 wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a partnership he has maintained since 2002.
Retirement Rationale and Final Run
Cena cited the physical toll of wrestling as the reason for his retirement, mentioning multiple operations on his neck, pectorals, and triceps. He announced in 2025 would be his last year as a competitor and has stated he will be "100% done" with competitive wrestling, despite the popular saying "never say never." His final appearances worldwide have received positive receptions from audiences.
Fans, such as Joe Clarkson, expressed satisfaction with Cena's "retirement run," which included matches against former rivals (AJ Styles, Randy Orton, CM Punk) and newer stars (Dominik Mysterio, Gunther). However, some criticism was directed at a brief "heel turn" (portrayal as a villain) during the Elimination Chamber event in March.
Following his retirement from competition, Cena has signed a five-year agreement to serve as an ambassador for WWE.