John Cena’s legendary 23-year in-ring career in WWE officially concluded this weekend signaling a major shift toward the next generation of Superstars.
In his highly anticipated farewell match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cena was defeated by the dominant Gunther via submission, a rare occurrence for the “Never Give Up” star.
The match which lasted nearly 25 minutes was framed as a battle between eras.
Gunther, who earned the right to face the 17-time World Champion by winning the “The Last Is Now” tournament, cemented his status as a top-tier threat by forcing the legend to tap put to a Sleeper Hold.
This decisive loss while emotional for fans is exactly what Cena intended.
The match was framed as a battle between erasThe match was framed as a battle between eras
The focus of the event was always about the future. Cena himself expressed his goals before the event, stating: “I would love for it to be, rather than just a tribute show, I want it to be a look ahead.”
The event’s card also featured rising stars like NXT Champion Oba Femi and Sol Ruca, highlighting WWE’s strategy to move toward a multi-star spotlight.
Former WWE star Wade Barrett summed up Cena’s immense impact on the industry saying, “I would say John Cena’s legacy is that he is on the Mount Rushmore of wrestlers. John Cena is undoubtedly, for my money, one of the top four professional wrestlers in history.”
With the biggest star of the modern era officially stepping away, the stage is now set for names like Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Gunther to define the new chapter of WWE.
