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yesterday

Gunther Named as John Cena’s Final Opponent for Dec. 13 WWE Farewell at Saturday Night’s Main Event

Cena says the bout will definitively end his in-ring career because his body can no longer meet the standard he promised fans.

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ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 31: John Cena attends the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event at the Philips Arena on October 31, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty Images)
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ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: John Cena speaks on stage during Fan Expo Chicago on August 16, 2025 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Gunther defeated LA Knight in the Last Time Is Now tournament final on SmackDown to earn the match with Cena on Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., streaming on Peacock.
  • In a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, Cena reiterated he is "absolutely, 100 percent done" after Dec. 13 and said he will never wrestle again.
  • Speaking with Bill Simmons, Cena cited the physical toll—"my body hurts, I’m a step slower"—after a farewell year of roughly 36 dates that he originally envisioned as a 220-date run.
  • Cena proposed dedicating most of the show to spotlight NXT prospects and confirmed his retirement match will close the event.
  • Coverage indicates he is expected to shift focus to film and television while remaining connected to WWE off-screen, and Seth Rollins said he plans to attend the send-off.