John Cena said goodbye to the wrestling world with one last match on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Some thought there would be some kind of swerve. Some thought it would be the lead-up to a final match at WrestleMania as that seemed like the right stage for such a farewell but none of that was to be.
Cena had his match. He said goodbye to the WWE Universe. They said goodbye to him and his left his running shoes in the middle of the ring.
Although fans cannot be blamed for letting their imaginations run wild because wrestling is wrestling and anything, anything is always possible, for all intents and purposes it does appear that Cena’s historic and inspiration 23-year in-ring career is now over.
Before we got to the main event though, there is a little shenanigans.
Stephanie McMahon is explaining to Joe Tessitore that the match is going to be…Awesome!…but The Miz interrupts her.
He is blathering in the middle of the ring and demanding respect for the role he played in Cena’s career. Out comes R-Truth. He calls The Miz out on fiddling with the Cena tournament…and the balls. He hands The Miz the ball Miz goofed with.
Inside of it is the name…Joe Hendry.
As soon as The Miz says his name, Hendry appears! Miz demands they turn off the theme song. He is sick of it! Miz takes a swing at R-Truth. He misses and gets popped. Hendry slams him. Hendry and R-Truth hit a double Five Knuckle Shuffle. Miz is then dropped with a Standing Ovation. Hendry and R-Truth lead the crowd in “waving their hands from side to side”.
We finally get to the match, 23 years in the making. Gunther is out first. He gets the thumbs down and the announcers call him a “terminator”. John Cena has never been defeated in the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Gunther leaves the ring as the crowd begins cheering for Cena.
“Let’s go, Cena!”
Cena steps out and the crowd is singing his song in unison.
“We are going to go down swinging. We are going to work one last time!” says Cena before running down to the ring.
The place goes mental with everyone on their feet They continue serenading Cena.
Cena leaves the ring to hug all of the superstars in the front row such as Sami Zayn, Trish Stratus, Eve Torres, Michelle McCool, Rob Van Dam, Kevin Owens, Haku, Booker T and WWE President Nick Khan.
Nobody emerges with an advantage after a tie-up, Gunther leaves the ring. The crowd calls Gunther an “asshole” as he kicks and stomps Cena.
“F–k you, Gunther!” chants begin as he chops Cena from corner to corner.
Gunther points down at Cena shaking his head. Another chop knocks Cena down to the canvass.
“You tapped out!” the crowd chants trying to get on Gunther’s case.
He slams Cena hard to the mat in response.
Gunther whips Cena into a corner, hard. Cena catches Gunther as he attempts another chop, ducks a chop, shoulder tackles Gunther, slams him for the Five Knuckle Shuffle.
Gunther German Suplexes his way out of an AA. A clothesline and a sleeper hold from Gunther. Cena turns that into a crossface. Gunther cannot reach the ropes. He is struggles and struggles as the crowd chants: “You tapped out!”.
Gunther escapes. T-Rex Drop Kick. Powerbomb. Gunther says it is game over now. He waits in a corner for Cena to get up then clotheslines him twice asking the official to check on Cena each time.
“F–k you, Gunther!” chants begin again.
Gunther motions for Cena to get up. Gunther just clotheslines him again before kneeling down and talking trash to him.
Yet another clothesline. Michael Cole says Gunther is just embarrassing Cena now. More “asshole” chants directed at Gunther. Gunther clotheslines Cena again…and again asks the official to check on Cena to see if he can continue.
Cena ducks a clothesline with two shoulder tackles, a slam and another Five Knuckle Shuffle. Gunther gets AA’ed! He kicks out at two.
Cena points to the crowd asking them if he should AA him one more time. Gunther escapes, chops Cena in the back of the head and puts on a sleeper hold.
Cena throws Gunther off into the ropes. He puts a sleeper on Gunther. Gunther reaches the ropes with his legs. He rolls out of the ring. They battle on the floor. Gunther slams Cena on the ring apron and throws him into the ring steps.
Gunther drags the steel steps over to the announce table. He stands on the steps giving the crowd the finger. More “asshole” chants.
Gunther carries Cena to the steps, punching him in the head. Gunther clears off the announce table. Cena reverses a powerbomb into an AA putting Gunther through the table instead.
Back in the ring, Cena gets a two count after all that. Cena collapses in a corner wondering that to do to put Gunther away. Cena hits a flying leg drop from the top rope for another two count.
“You still got it!” chants the crowd.
Cena asks the crowd if they want one more, one final Five Knuckle Shuffle. They agree.
Gunther gets back to the feet. Big boot to the face, powerbomb. Cena kicks out.
Gunther climbs to the top rope. Cena meets him there. He picks up Gunther on his shoulders. An Avalanche AA from the second rope. Gunther kicks out…again.
“This is awesome!” chants the crowd.
It is a slugfest in the middle of the ring. Gunther misses a punch. Gunther turns an AA into a powerbomb. Gunther splashes Cena off the top rope. Cena energetically kicks out.
“Super Cena!” chants the crowd.
Gunther locks on the sleeper. Cena moves the elbow on camera saying he is being choked to Gunther.
Cena attempts to break the sleeper but gets taken down to the mat. Cena gets back to his feet with the crowd cheering his name. He powers Gunther into an AA but Gunther slips out putting on the sleeper again. Cena sinks to the mat. Cena puts his arm up and starts Hulking Up. Gunther jumps onto Cena’s back with the sleeper. Cena rams Gunther into a corner. Gunther leaps back with the sleeper. Cena drops to the mat again.
Cena rams Gunther into the ropes again. Another AA. Gunther kicks out. Gunther has Cena in a sleeper.
“Don’t give up!” chants the crowd.
Cena’s arm drops twice but pop up before three. Gunther drops elbow after elbow before locking in the sleeper.
Cena taps out.
The crowd sighs and then goes silent.
“Tonight, professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment,” says Michael Cole.
Some are shown crying in the audience.
Gunther walks to the back with his arms raised in victory as boos rain down on him.
“Bullshit!” shout the fans as Cena sits in the middle of the ring shaking his head saying he tried.
Cena kisses the canvass as chants of “Thank you, Cena!” echo throughout the arena.
Cena thanks the crowd as he takes a bow.
HHH, Stephanie McMahon and others come down to the ring. They are booed by the crowd.
“You f—ed up!” shouts the crowd at HHH. I assume this is commentary on the booking of the match.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes come to the ring. They place their belts on Cena’s shoulders.
Cena looks stunned and taken aback as if about to cry.
Wrestlers begin to surround the ring as the crowd chants their thanks again.
Cena holds up the belts to more cheers all around the ring.
HHH is now standing in a corner. The crowd boos as they hug. HHH Points to a tribute video. Cena watches it fighting away tears and smiling.
The crowd cheers once the video is over. Cena bows to each side of the area. He takes off his running shows, his wrist bands and leaves them in the middle of the ring. He walks that aisle one more time shaking everyone’s hand as he does.
He stops once and turns around, admires the crowd and takes one final bow and salute.
“It has been a pleasure serving you all these years. Thank you,” he says before he turns his back to the camera and leaves.
Thank you, Cena.
SNME – December 13th, 2025 – Results
We see that Kurt Angle, Trish Stratus, Shawn Michaels, Mark Henry and Jon Bernthal, who plays The Punisher in the MCU, are all in attendance for the momentous occasion.
We don’t get Jesse Ventura but instead Stephanie McMahon as a co-host for some reason. Not sure why. Joe Tessitore showers her with praise who claims Stephanie “rescued” Cena’s career at one point. She parrots HHH’s line about being reeeeady and off we go…Cody’s music hits…
Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion) versus Oba Femi (NXT Champion) – Champion vs. Champion Match
The fans cheer Oba’s name which is very cool. He really is a phenomenon. Oba’s dad is watching live in Nigeria. The fans start their “Cody Rhooodes” chant too. Cody frustrates Oba by slipping out of holds. Cody kicks him in the stomach but Oba grabs him by the throat for an Irish Curse backbreaker. Body shots and a forearm to the back has Cody reeling in a corner.
Cody fires back with some shots to the face. Oba heaves Cody across the ring. Oba blocks Cody’s powerslam. Cody gets slammed himself. Oba throws Cody off the ropes and easily gives him a one-armed backbreaker.
Cody side-steps Oba. Oba hits the steel post. Cody powerslams Oba. A Cody Cutter for a two count. Oba is sent to the floor. Cody dives. Oba punches him right in the face. Cody succeeds on the other side of the ring though sending Oba into the ringside barricade. Back in the ring, a spinebuster by Oba for a two count.
Drop down punch by Cody. Oba clotheslines him over the top rope. Oba charges at Cody hitting him with European uppercut to the face knocking him over the announce table. Cody is busted open, blood pouring down his face from one of his ears.
An avalanche Cody Cutter stuns Oba. Drew McIntyre rushes the ring at almost nine minutes in. He starts pounding on Cody. Oba stops McIntyre by just heaving him to the mat. Cody Cutter by Rhodes and a chokeslam by Oba on McIntyre. McIntyre rolls out of the ring. Cody and Oba share a moment of mutual respect. They hold up each other’s hands and touch belts.
A very impressive main roster debut by Oba. After WrestleMania, bring this monster up. He needs to run rampant on Smackdown or Raw perhaps challenging Bron Breakker in a massive future feud?
Winner: Match thrown out at 8 minutes and 50 seconds.
Rating: 8 / 10
Bayley versus Sol Ruca
Lyra Valkyria comes to the ring with Bayley. Bayley gives Trish Stratus and Eve Torres a hug before heading into the ring. Zaria accompanies Ruca.
“I am watching you,” says Bayley to Ruca before the bell rings.
Bayley and Ruca trade waist locks and roll-ups. Bayley works over Ruca’s arm until she flips out of an arm lock. Ruca flips, walks on her hands and gives Bayley a hurricanrana. An X Factor has Bayley rolling to the floor.
Bayley snaps Ruca over the top rope. Bayley misses her drop kick through the ropes around the ring post. Ruca dives at Bayley. Bayley socks her in the jaw.
The crowd starts their Bayley sing-song chant.
Ruca flips over the top rope and onto Bayley on the floor. Ruca misses a springboard splash. Bayley gets a two count after suplexes Ruca into a corner.
A German Suplex out of a corner has Ruca doing a cartwheel off the top rope for a DDT on Bayley. Ruca’s Sol Catcher is countered with a Bayley to Belly. Bayley gets two.
Bayley hangs Ruca on the Tree of Woe. A flying elbow smash has Ruca down for two. Ruca counters a Rose Plant with a running knee smash to the face for another two count. Bayley slams Ruca off the top rope for Rose Plant. Ruca gets her feet on the ropes to break the pin. An angry Bayley punches Ruca over and over.
Ruca awkwardly puts her knees up to block the flying elbow smash. Bayley rolls out of the ring after a Sol Snatcher. They trade roll-ups. Ruca pins Bayley. Lyra comforts Bayley. Bayley shakes Ruca’s hands. Zaria, Ruca, Bayley and Lyra all take their bows.
At times she looked a bit uncomfortable in her timing but overall not a bad match for Ruca.
Winner: Sol Ruca at 9 minutes and 28 seconds.
Rating: 7 / 10
We see sitting at ringside are Michelle McCool, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle, Eve Torres, Trish Stratus, Rob Van Dam and Sami Zayn, his son.
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater – WWE Tag Team Championship Match
There’s a sign in the audience:
Cancer Couldn’t Stop Me Seeing Cena.
Best wishes, dude. All of Slam is pulling for you.
Slater and Evans rush Styles and Lee double drop kicking them out of the ring. Slater does his running leaps on Styles and Dragon on the floor. Evans splashes Dragon for a two count.
Dragon Lee battles back causing Slater to crash into a steel post. Dragon turns Slater inside out for a powerbomb. Styles unleashes his combo and a running clothesline to ground Evans. Styles is caught with a forearm to the face knocking him to the floor. Evans misses a moonsault so Styles just spears him into the barricade.
OG Cutter on Styles. Slater hits the Swanton 450. Dragon has to break up the pin. Styles slips on the top rope missing his flying forearm. Slater leaps off the top rope. He is caught by Styles for a Clash.
All four men salute Cena.
Winners: …and still WWE Tag Team Champions, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee at 7 minutes and 29 seconds.
Rating: 8 / 10
John Cena vs. Gunther – John Cena Retirement Match
Winner: Gunther at 23 minutes and 45 seconds.
Rating: 9 / 10
Event Rating: 8 / 10
