‘Never Give Up’ Icon John Cena finally Gives Up in emotional farewell

From schoolyard chants of “You can’t see me” to packed arenas across the world, John Cena became the face of professional wrestling for 90’s kids. On Sunday night, that era officially came to an end as the WWE icon wrestled his final match, submitting to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event and closing the curtain on one of the most celebrated careers in sports entertainment history.

Cena was greeted by a deafening ovation as the Washington DC crowd sang his iconic theme, My Time Is Now, welcoming him for the final time. Wrestling legends and long-time rivals including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Mark Henry were present at ringside, adding emotional weight to the occasion. Gunther started the match with his trademark intensity, delivering thunderous chops and uppercuts, but Cena quickly fired back with his signature offense and unbreakable resolve.

The contest soon turned into a brutal test of strength and endurance. Cena connected with multiple Attitude Adjustments and even drove Gunther through the announce table, drawing massive cheers from the crowd. However, the Austrian powerhouse repeatedly kicked out, countering with German suplexes, powerbombs and a series of punishing strikes that showcased why he is considered one of WWE’s most dominant modern competitors. Despite absorbing heavy punishment, Cena continued to rise, feeding off the energy of the fans.

As the match entered its final phase, Cena summoned one last surge, delivering an avalanche Attitude Adjustment from the ropes in a dramatic attempt to secure victory. Gunther survived yet again, shifting momentum with a brutal boot to the head and relentless offense. When Gunther locked in his sleeper hold, Cena showed brief signs of life, escaping momentarily and landing one final Attitude Adjustment. But the effort drained his remaining strength.

Gunther quickly regained control and applied the sleeper hold once more. With no escape left and his energy exhausted, Cena tapped out, bringing an emotional end to his in-ring career. The moment was symbolic, as the man who built his legacy around the motto “Never Give Up” was forced to submit in his final match.

The atmosphere shifted from competition to celebration as the WWE locker room emptied to honour Cena. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk led a group of stars to the ring, joined by Triple H and several past and present performers. In a moving tribute, Rhodes and Punk placed their championship belts on Cena’s shoulders, allowing him to raise them one last time as the crowd erupted in applause. Cena then left his wristbands and boots in the ring, a traditional sign of retirement, before walking up the ramp to a standing ovation.

Gunther’s victory added another historic milestone to his rising career. Having already captured major titles and retired Goldberg earlier this year, defeating Cena in his final match firmly established him as one of WWE’s top stars of the current era.

Cena retires with a résumé befitting a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He ends his career as a 17-time world champion, with 14 WWE Championship reigns and three World Heavyweight Championship titles. He also enjoyed success across the card, winning the United States Championship five times, the Intercontinental Championship once, and holding multiple tag team titles with different partners. Cena is a two-time Royal Rumble winner, a former Money in the Bank winner and one of the few wrestlers to complete a career Grand Slam in WWE.

With his final match now complete, John Cena’s journey as an active in-ring competitor ends after more than two decades, leaving behind a legacy of hustle, loyalty and respect that shaped an entire generation of wrestling fans.

John Cena has officially visited India only once for a WWE event; his first-ever in-ring match in the country was at the WWE Superstar Spectacle in Hyderabad on September 8, 2023. That was the first time he wrestled live in front of Indian fans as part of a WWE show.