By Wellington Jopelo
WWE legend John Cena has officially retired from professional wrestling, ending a remarkable 24-year career following his final match in Washington, D.C.
Cena wrestled his farewell bout on Saturday at the Capital One Arena during Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced Gunther. The match lasted nearly 25 minutes and ended when the 48-year-old was forced to submit to a sleeper hold.
The outcome stunned fans inside the arena, many of whom watched in silence and tears as Gunther refused to release the hold despite loud chants urging Cena to continue. The submission marked the first time in Cena’s career that he tapped out in a WWE ring.
After the match, several WWE superstars came out to honour him. Cena then placed his wristbands and boots in the ring a traditional sign of retirement before walking up the ramp and turning back to salute the crowd one final time.
Cena leaves the sport as a 17-time world champion, the most recognised title reigns in WWE history. He also headlined WrestleMania six times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
He began his WWE journey in 2002 and rose to fame after adopting the “Doctor of Thuganomics” character, which helped him connect strongly with fans. His famous “You Can’t See Me” slogan became one of the most recognisable phrases in sports entertainment.
Beyond wrestling, Cena successfully transitioned into acting, becoming one of the most successful WWE stars in Hollywood.
Cena had announced in 2024 that he would retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025, with his farewell tour beginning earlier this year. His final run included a brief villain role, a record-breaking 17th world title win, and a closing chapter that drew praise across the wrestling world.
Reflecting on Cena’s legacy after the event, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes described him as a standard-setter who inspired generations of wrestlers, saying his influence on the industry would be felt long after his exit.