WASHINGTON, DC —John Cena ends his wrestling careerin defeat.
The iconic WWE wrestler lost the final match of his storied run, as Gunther emerged victorious atSaturday Night's Main Eventon Dec. 13.
After a thrilling battle that had several twists and turns, it came down to the Sleeper Hold.
Toward the end of the match, punches were traded when the two stars got to their feet, and it was Gunther who broke it with a powerbomb. He followed it with a Frog Splash and Cena avoided the loss, but Gunther didn't stop, hitting another Sleeper Hold. Cena got up several times but Gunther continued to drag him back down. Just when Cena broke out of it, Gunther locked it back in.
Cena got out one more time to land the AA but the pin didn't work, and it was immediately followed up with another submission hold. The crowd chanted "don't give up" as Cena started to fade. The referee checked Cena's hand and he was able to keep it up before the three-count.
But Gunther kept the hold on. Cena finally tapped out and Gunther won to stun the crowd.
It's over.Gunther taps out John Cena.pic.twitter.com/0O2lTpl3p1
— WWE (@WWE)December 14, 2025
With the result, Cena's wrestling career is complete. The Massachusetts native made his WWE debut in June 2002 and went on a historic 23-year run in the company. He was the face of wrestling for nearly two decades, embarking on several notable feuds with a ton great moments and championship reigns.
At Money in the Bank 2024, Cena announced 2025 would be his final year of in-ring competition, beginning a farewell tour that took place across the world and would culminate at Capital One Arena in the nation's capital.
John Cena enters the ring during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena salutes during his introduction at Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena points to the crowd during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena hits the "You Can't See Me" pose during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena lifts Gunther during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena performs the "You Can't See Me" gesture during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena performs a flying leg drop during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena prepares for a super Attitude Adjustment during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena tries to break out of Gunther's Sleeper Hold during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Gunther puts John Cena in the Sleeper Hold during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Gunther celebrates after defeating John Cena during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena salutes during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena watches a tribute video during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena sits in the ring after losing at Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena sits in the ring after losing at Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk give John Cena their titles during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena celebrates with the Undisputed WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena embraces with WWE chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena bows during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena leaves his arm bands and shoes in the ring after losing his final match at Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> John Cena's final match: 20 best photos of the end of his WWE career
John Cena enters the ring during Saturday Night's Main Event at Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
A tournament was held to determine who would get the opportunity to be Cena's final opponent, and Gunther emerged as the winner, defeating LA Knight in the final for the right to face the future WWE Hall of Famer. Now, Gunther gets the honor of beating Cena in his final match.
With his wrestling career over, Cena ends as a 17-time WWE Champion – the most in company history – as well as a Grand Slam Champion – with reigns as the Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion. He also won the 2012 Money in the Bank match and is a two-time Royal Rumble match winner, in 2008 and 2013.
It likely won't be the last time Cena appears in WWE, but the last time was now for him as a wrestler.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Did John Cena win his last WWE match? Result, highlights
