John Cena retires after final WWE match, ending 24-year career
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
John Cena, one of professional wrestling's most recognizable figures, ended his 24-year in-ring career with World Wrestling Entertainment on Saturday, losing his final match and formally retiring at the end of a farewell run that began in 2024.
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. After early struggles, he found success by adopting the "Doctor of Thuganomics" character, a shift that helped establish him as a central figure in WWE programming, says ESPN.
Over the following two decades, Cena became one of the promotion's most popular and decorated performers. WWE recognizes him as a 17-time world champion, a record he shares at the top of the company's title history. He headlined WrestleMania six times and completed a Grand Slam by winning WWE's major championships, including the Intercontinental title, which he briefly held after a win and loss against Dominick Mysterio.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
From 2017 onward, Cena appeared sporadically as a part-time performer while pursuing acting and other projects. At the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event on July 6, 2024, he announced plans to retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025.
His retirement tour began at the Royal Rumble, where he was eliminated by Jey Uso. During the run, Cena turned heel for the first time since 2003 at Elimination Chamber on March 1. He later won his 17th world championship by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania in April, before losing the title back to Rhodes and ending the villain role at SummerSlam in August.
Cena's final opponent was determined through a tournament, won by Gunther. The match, held at Saturday Night's Main Event, lasted just under 25 minutes and ended when Cena submitted to Gunther's sleeper hold. It marked the first time Cena had tapped out in more than 20 years.
After the match, members of the WWE locker room joined Cena in the ring. WWE World Heavyweight champion CM Punk and Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes handed their championship belts to him, while Paul "Triple H" Levesque presented a video tribute.
Cena did not deliver a speech. Instead, he left his wristbands and boots in the ring, walked up the entrance ramp, and offered a final salute to the camera and fans, closing his WWE career.
