John Cena’s 23-year wrestling career concluded tonight at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. After the main event match, the 16-time World Champion addressed the crowd with a final message: “It’s been a pleasure serving you all these years. Thank you.”
Match Recap: The Final Tap Out
In his final match, Cena faced World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. The match ended when Gunther applied a sleeper hold, forcing Cena to tap out.
Post-Match Tribute and Crowd Reaction
Following the match, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and Stephanie McMahon led the locker room to the ring to honor Cena. The crowd directed loud boos and chants of “You f***ed up” at Triple H during the segment.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk entered the ring and placed their titles on Cena’s shoulders. Cena has signed a new five-year ambassador deal to remain with the company.
John Cena’s Business Legacy
From a business perspective, John Cena is widely regarded as one of the most successful figures in industry history due to several key metrics:
- Merchandise Sales: For over a decade, Cena was the company’s top merchandise seller, moving millions of units to a global fanbase. His appeal helped WWE capture a demographic heavily skewed toward women and children.
- Charitable Work: Cena holds the Guinness World Record for the most wishes granted for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with over 650 wishes granted. This work significantly impacted WWE’s public image during its transition to a PG product.
- Longevity and Stability: Cena served as the face of the company for 15 years following the “Attitude Era.” His tenure provided stability that coincided with WWE securing major television rights fees and launching the WWE Network.
