WWE star John Cena retires from wrestling after submission loss - ESPN

Pro wrestling superstar John Cena ended his 24-year WWE tenure at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. by doing what he hadn't done in more than 20 years: He tapped out.

Cena submitted to former two-time WWE heavyweight champion Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event in a stellar final match that had the crowd hanging on to every moment, hoping that Cena would go out with a win.

Instead, Cena's tap out signaled to fans that his time is finally over and he is going out on his own terms

Cena signed with WWE in 2001 under the name The Prototype and made his SmackDown debut under his real name in a losing effort to Kurt Angle on June 27, 2002. He struggled as a singles wrestler until he adopted the «Doctor of Thuganomics» heel character that saw Cena perform freestyle raps in promos.

Eventually, Cena became one of the most beloved wrestlers on the roster and a 17-time world champion, the most world title reigns recognized by WWE.

He main evented WrestleMania six times in his career and is widely recognized as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. After sporadic appearances as a part-time performer from 2017 to 2024, Cena announced at WWE's Money in the Bank Premium Live Event on July 6, 2024, that he would retire from in-ring action at the end of 2025.

Cena's retirement tour formally kicked off at the Royal Rumble in January, when he was eliminated by Jey Uso. Cena stunned the world by turning heel for the first time since 2003 at Elimination Chamber on March 1. He would go on to win his 17th world championship by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania in April. The heel turn was short-lived, as Cena dropped the bad-guy gimmick and the title to Rhodes at SummerSlam in