Until the day finally arrived. The legendary John Cena put an end to one of the most iconic careers in wrestling history. With a farewell match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the American officially retired as a professional wrestler, closing a chapter that spanned more than two decades in WWE.
At 48 years old, Cena stepped into the ring for the last time with the persona that made him a global icon. During the match, he once again performed his classic You Can’t See Me gesture, although the passage of time was evident and he ultimately fell to his opponent. After the defeat, he wore the company’s belts for the last time and addressed the audience with a brief and emotional message: "It has been a pleasure to serve you all these years, thank you".
His wrestling story began in 2002 and since then he built a record that is hard to match. He was a 17-time world champion, five-time United States champion, intercontinental champion, four-time tag team champion and two-time Royal Rumble winner, in addition to becoming one of the most recognized faces of WWE internationally.
Although he is saying goodbye to competition, Cena will not be completely leaving the wrestling universe. After signing a contract on December 9, he will continue to be linked to the company as a brand ambassador, a role that reinforces his symbolic importance within the company.
Meanwhile, his artistic career remains in full swing. With several film and television projects on his schedule, the actor keeps the door open for a possible return to the DC Universe as Peacemaker, following the conclusion of the second season of the series broadcast by HBO Max. Thus, John Cena leaves the ring, but not the spotlight.
