WWE icon John Cena brought the curtain down on his legendary professional wrestling career with a submission loss to Gunther in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington DC on Sunday.

In a fittingly physical farewell, the record-breaking 17-time world champion delivered one last high-intensity performance before being forced to tap out to Gunther’s sleeper hold, marking the end of an illustrious in-ring career spanning over two decades.

Cena received a thunderous ovation as he made his entrance, with the crowd singing along to his iconic theme, My Time Is Now. The emotional weight of the moment was amplified by the presence of several of Cena’s long-time rivals and friends at ringside, including Kurt Angle — his first-ever WWE opponent — Rob Van Dam, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Mark Henry.

The match itself was a hard-hitting affair. Gunther opened with sharp strikes and power offence, but Cena responded with his trademark flurry of signature moves. Momentum swung repeatedly as Gunther countered Cena’s offence with German suplexes, powerbombs and relentless strikes. Cena rallied with multiple Attitude Adjustments, including one through the announce table, but was unable to keep the Austrian powerhouse down.

Despite showcasing his trademark resilience and “Never Give Up” spirit, Cena eventually succumbed when Gunther reapplied the sleeper hold, forcing Cena to tap out in his final match — a symbolic end for a man long known for refusing to quit.

Following the bout, the ring was filled with WWE talent, past and present. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk placed their championship belts on Cena’s shoulders as a mark of respect, while Triple H, Shawn Michaels, AJ Styles, The Miz and others joined in the tribute. Cena left his wristbands and boots in the ring before walking up the ramp to a standing ovation.

Gunther, who earned the right to face Cena by winning the Last Time Is Now tournament, etched his name into WWE history as the man who defeated Cena in his final bout, adding to a resume that already includes retiring Goldberg earlier this year.

Cena retires as one of the most decorated superstars in WWE history, with 17 world championship reigns, multiple mid-card and tag team titles, two Royal Rumble wins and a completed career Grand Slam. His retirement tour featured high-profile clashes with Randy Orton, CM Punk, AJ Styles and others, before culminating in this emotional farewell.

With his final bell now rung, John Cena’s legacy as one of WWE’s most influential and enduring icons stands firmly cemented.