
That’s right, John Cena tapped out to Gunther at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event: Cena’s Final Match. Earning this opportunity by winning The Last Time Is Now Tournament, the Austrian sure made a statement. After a card intended to highlight some of NXT’s best up-and-comers, the main event left the WWE Universe with their jaws on the floor. Emotions were flowing on December 13, 2025, from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It’s hard to fathom that the man who never gives up actually gave up.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event: Cena’s Final Match opened with a clash of current-day titans. NXT Champion Oba Femi and Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes met in the clash of top babyfaces. An entertaining contest was spoiled by outside interference from Drew McIntyre for the finish.
The following match may not have had current champions, but it certainly featured two popular women from both the WWE and NXT rosters. Bayley and Sol Ruca put on a match highlighted by smooth reversals and tense false finishes. The “Role Model” put over the young superstar, who clearly appreciated the boost. She was visibly holding back tears during her post-win celebration.
WHAT. A. FINISH.
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025
SOL RUCA GETS THE WIN OVER BAYLEY! pic.twitter.com/fJ04JRiMYe
Another clash of champions followed: WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee versus NXT’s Je’Von Evans and TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater. Outside of the emotion surrounding Cena’s final match, this was the best contest of the evening. The pace, movesets, and reversals from all four men were exhilarating. Styles ultimately got the pinfall over Slater.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event: Cena’s Final Match was coming to an end as fans soaked in the bittersweet moment. From the popular slap of Kurt Angle to every kid’s superhero, the Doctor of Thuganomics’ road was coming to an end. The most decorated sports entertainer of all time went out against the toughest wrestler on the active roster.
Speechless. pic.twitter.com/BEfg0Fqd4Z
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2025
The match was entertaining, but was carried by the surrounding storyline. Cena executed all of his signature moves and finishers before finding himself trapped in a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring. The future Hall of Famer—the man who never gives up, the “Never Seen Seventeen”—tapped out to end his career.
It had a similar feeling to when Undertaker lost his WrestleMania streak. The shock of something assumed impossible being done has sent out WWE’s best. Cena’s final match will go down in history. This will be the equivalent of how Brock Lesnar sailed on his WrestleMania victory over The Deadman. Gunther now has a new way to get the fans to boo him.
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