Cena's Silent Thunder: The Farewell That Shook WWE and Fans Alike
14 December 2025
Farewell Night at the Capital One Arena
Fans were left stunned and mournful as the legendary John Cena closed his WWE journey in a controversial fashion on Saturday night (early Sunday in the Arab world).
At Capital One Arena in front of nearly 20,000 fans, Cena faced Gunther in a dramatic farewell match streamed on WWE's YouTube channel.
Before the bell, Cena said, "This is real, we'll fight until the end. Let's do this one last time."
Gunther controlled most of the contest, trapping Cena in a series of submission holds that wore down the 48-year-old icon.
Facing mounting disappointment, Cena ultimately tapped out, triggering a wave of angry and sad reactions from the crowd.
Cena's retirement came as one of only four times in his storied career that he submitted, the last being more than two decades ago against Kurt Angle in 2004.
Fox Sports reported that the crowd directed boos toward Triple H when he entered the ring to salute Cena.
After the match, the locker room surged onto the canvas to pay tribute as Cena delivered a final salute and removed his boots and wristbands, leaving them at the center of the ring.
Earlier this year, Cena had suggested the farewell was imminent, telling fans "the farewell is now."
Cena, now also a Hollywood name, faced criticism for how his transition to a villain character was handled during this farewell tour.
In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Cena explained: "I have 11 months left to do this, 36 TV appearances. It takes five years to tell a good story to the audience, and if you flip it to a villain, it takes a year or two on TV to sink in. I don’t have the time to tell the story right."
Fans watched as the show closed with a video tribute, a final handshake, and Cena's solemn farewell, before he left the arena to a standing ovation and tears from many.
The night also highlighted Cena's enduring legacy and the camaraderie within the locker room, inspiring fans around the world.
Punchline 1: Cena’s retirement plan? Finally getting paid to pretend he’s not tired.
Punchline 2: The crowd won’t forget him anytime soon—double the cheers, double the merch lines.
