The story of John Cena is the story of a wrestling era, a generation of WWE connecting to a younger audience through the story of a hero that would never give up.

Pro wrestling superstar John Cena ended his 24-year WWE tenure at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. by doing what he hadn't done in more than 20 years: He tapped out. Cena submitted to former two-time WWE heavyweight champion Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event in a stellar final match that had the crowd hanging on to every moment,

The Miz and Evans had a match after a heated moment backstage set it up earlier in the show. The A-Lister had control for the first couple of moves, but the high-flyer sent him out of the ring and hit a beautiful moonsault.

Cena made his WWE debut on SmackDown on June 27, 2002, after signing with the company a year earlier under the ring name The Prototype

On the June 27, 2002 edition of WWE SmackDown, Cena made his WWE debut by answering Angle’s open challenge. When Angle asked him what quality he possessed that made him think he could wrestle Angle, Cena responded, “Ruthless Aggression,” before slapping Angle in the face to start the match.

Wrestling icon John Cena is retiring from the WWE, and you can watch his last match on Dec. 13, 2025. Here's how!

John Cena ends his 23-year WWE career in an emotional final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, losing to Gunther in a thrilling send-off.

UFC legend mocks John Cena for celebrating iconic WWE career, reminding fans he never beat him in a real fight