John Cena believes his final match in the WWE was a perfect end to his career. The 17-time World Champion marked the end of his professional career on December 13.
Many fans had been anticipating seeing the GOAT wrestle his very last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, Cena’s match didn’t end how they expected. The GOAT would tap out against Gunther in the middle of the ring, which deeply upset fans.
Cena has now opened up about the finish of the match and addressed the fan backlash it received. The Never-Seen 17 spoke at the New Orleans Fan Expo that the reaction to the finish runs parallel to the entirety of his career, with some loving it, while others absolutely despised it.
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I guess it kind of parallels my career. I think it was a perfect end, because a whole lot of people thought it sucked, a whole lot of people thought it was special, and that’s kind of been my story for 23 years. So I thought it was perfect,” he said.
John Cena Tapped Out In His Final Match
John Cena did the unthinkable during the final moments of his last match in WWE. He and his opponent, Gunther, put on a fantastic display of action right from the bell.
Both stars exchanged a lot of blows with one another, but the hero finally gave up in the end. Gunther would pummel Cena with elbow strikes and put him in a chokehold submission in the middle of the ring. At first, Cena would struggle to get out until he eventually accepted his fate.
The GOAT gave a subtle smile as he knew his end had come and tapped out. A sudden shock of silence went throughout the entire audience in attendance. Many tried to process what they had seen as they watched the WWE icon crumble in front of their eyes.
Fans Are Still Divided On The Ending Of Cena’s Career
Many fans are still split on the ending of John Cena’s career. The finish of the Cenation Leader’s final WWE match still splits fan opinion, with a few thinking it was a special moment, while others believe it ruined his retirement tour.
It certainly seems like this was a decision made ahead of time to have Cena tap out in his last ever match. Perhaps, we saw a visceral reaction from the fans since their hero, who had preached ‘Never Give Up’ for more than 20 years, finally fell. Regardless of the fans’ feelings, Cena still believes it was a fitting end.
Published: Jan 14, 2026 01:52 pm