John Cena Retires From WWE After 23 Years
John Cena has officially retired from WWE after a 23-year career. His journey leaves behind championships, and a message of never giving up.
Many people grew up watching WWE, and it remains one of the most special memories of childhood. Over the years, many legendary wrestlers entertained fans, but John Cena stood out as the most iconic. Loved by fans across the world, Cena became the face of WWE for more than two decades.
That historic era officially came to an end on Saturday, 13 December 2025, when John Cena played his final WWE match against Gunther at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The match lasted 23 minutes, and Cena lost. After the match, he stood in the ring looking emotional, taking in the moment. He removed his sneakers and wrist bands and placed them in the ring as a final goodbye.
Cena bowed to all sections of the crowd as fans chanted “Thank you, Cena.” Several WWE superstars, including Triple H, gathered around the ring to honour him. As he walked toward the locker room, Cena stopped one last time, bowed again, saluted the crowd, and said, “It’s been a pleasure serving you all these years. Thank you.”
John Cena made his WWE debut in 2002 by boldly challenging Kurt Angle. In 2005, he won his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21 by defeating JBL. The same year, he released his rap album You Can’t See Me, which became popular with fans.
His surprise return at the 2008 Royal Rumble created one of the loudest reactions in WWE history. Rivalries with Edge, Randy Orton, and The Rock defined WWE’s golden era. Over 23 years, Cena became World Champion a record 17 times and inspired generations with his message of “Never Give Up.” At 48, he now focuses on his acting career.
