How he reached the highest of WWE

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/72d5/live/804b5af0-d6a7-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="WWE via Getty Images John Cena gets fired up during SmackDown at Bell Centre on August 8, 2025 in Montreal, Canada." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> WWE by way of Getty Pictures The Final Time Is Now. It is the identify of the match during which 16 wrestling giants have been competing to tackle John Cena in his remaining combat earlier than retirement.

And that remaining combat is now - Saturday evening - in Washington DC, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious profession that has seen the American turn into one in all wrestling's largest and most bankable stars.

Within the 8,570 days since his debut, Cena has clinched 17 world titles and coined the long-lasting "You Cannot See Me" catchphrase - however the 48-year-old's impression goes far past that.

If you happen to had been to pose the query "who's John Cena?", relying on who you ask, the solutions may fluctuate from legendary WWE (World Wrestling Leisure) celebrity, to profitable movie actor, whereas some will say he is Mr Make-A-Want (extra on that later).

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e5e/live/192de3c0-d516-11f0-a892-01d657345866.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images John Cena celebrates his win during WrestleMania 41 Sunday at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Wealthy Freeda/WWE by way of Getty Pictures John Cena celebrates his win throughout WrestleMania 41 Sunday in Las Vegas in April 2025

How one can watch John Cena's final match:

Begin time: WWE Saturday Night time's Principal Occasion is scheduled to start at 01:00 GMT on Solar 14 DecWhere to observe: Within the UK, you possibly can watch totally free on WWE's official YouTube channel. Internationally it may be watched on Netflix, and on Peacock within the US 'An distinctive wrestling expertise'

Since his 2002 debut, there's been an evolution in his personal wrestling character - transitioning from "ruthless aggression" rookie, to a "Physician of Thuganomics" rapper, and ultimately a heroic character identified for a "By no means Give Up" angle.

Regardless of criticism from some followers of his in-ring capacity, with occasional chants of "you possibly can't wrestle" by means of the years, "there isn't any doubt that he is an distinctive wrestling expertise", says Brandon Thurston, editor and proprietor of wrestling web site, Wrestlenomics.

He feels one thing modified in 2005, after which WWE grew to become "more and more scripted in a method it had not been" earlier than, because it entered right into a extra managed, household pleasant PG period. However Cena managed to thrive.

"He is undoubtedly been the largest draw over the time which I might say stretches from 2005 to roughly 2015," Mr Thurston says, with Cena's merchandise additionally recurrently topping gross sales for the corporate.

"There's little query that he was WWE's most necessary financial wrestler all through that point - when it comes to pay-per-view buys, which had been nonetheless central in that period, TV scores, and as a home present draw."

Exterior the ring too, he is a persona who "individuals gravitate in direction of and need to hearken to", says Mr Thurston - and wrestling followers like Joe Clarkson and Sabrina Nicole really feel simply that.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/46ca/live/ac9bbdd0-d516-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="WWE via Getty Images John Cena in action against Kurt Angle during SmackDown at Allstate Arena on June 25, 2002 in Rosemont, Illinois. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> WWE by way of Getty Pictures Cena made his debut in opposition to Kurt Angle at SmackDown in June 2002

"To go for such a very long time in an trade, which is sort of closely taxing on the physique, is completely fascinating," says Joe, 24, who was 5 when he first noticed Cena on TV.

"I believe over time, the individuals simply gained increasingly more respect for him, not simply as a performer, but in addition as a person."

For Sabrina, 37, who remembers Cena's WWE debut in 2002, it is "his charisma".

"He has simply all the time had one thing about him that makes him a star," she says, including that for many of his profession, he is "all the time maintained a superb man persona".

"It doesn't matter what the group, it doesn't matter what the followers have considered him. He has simply been the testomony to in case you have a extremely good character, you will be on high," she says.

It additionally appears to be true that, past his capacity and persona, Cena seized a chance.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7870/live/a4382970-d51c-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images WWE superstar, John Cena at his home on August 17, 2005 in Land O' Lakes, Florida. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Cena's signature "You Cannot See Me" gesture

With The Rock and Stone Chilly Steve Austin now not full-time performers, WWE bosses had been on the lookout for a brand new star to emerge.

Mr Thurston feels WWE management recognised Cena "can be a really dependable and intensely hardworking individual whom they might entrust with such a spot".

It is extensively accepted inside wrestling circles that the ultimate resolution to have Cena because the chosen star would in the end have been taken by then-WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

Whereas he was identified for following his instincts, there may even have been a judgement on Cena's capacity to attach with a passionate crowd on the mic, his marketability and whether or not he might be within the trade lengthy sufficient to be worthwhile.

And when Cena began taking extra time away from wrestling in 2015 and dealing a lowered schedule, Mr Thurston feels there was a "decline" within the WWE product.

Different wrestling specialists have recommended Cena's presence through the years helped gradual the slide of WWE scores trending downwards which, based on evaluation by wrestling website PWtorch, noticed common viewership for its flagship weekly Uncooked programme fall by one million between 2010 and 2015, to three.7m.

Having achieved a lot inside wrestling, Cena might "simply are available in and be a wrestler and stroll out", provides Dr Gillian Brooks, affiliate professor in advertising and marketing at King's Enterprise College, however as a substitute she says he constructed a private model that comes throughout as actual.

An 'genuine' character

Among the many manufacturers Cena has labored with is Neutrogena, changing into the face of its sunscreen marketing campaign after revealing he had pores and skin most cancers spots - which he attributed to his personal lack of solar safety use.

He additionally holds the Guinness World Report for the variety of needs granted by means of the Make-A-Want Basis, with greater than 650 fulfilled needs for kids with essential diseases. It is a partnership he revealed had began by "accident", however one he is saved since 2002, describing it as "the good factor".

"If you concentrate on it from a baby's perspective, they're seeing somebody that they've seen on TV watching WWE or in movies, and so they instantly get to fulfill him," Dr Brooks says. "The truth that he is doing charity work, he is written a youngsters's e book, been in movies, made music… all these items illustrate that he is not a one present pony.

"It is coming throughout in a method that is very genuine and really type of pure to who he's."

Each Cena's private model and his charisma are set to dwell on, however his time within the ring seems to have come to an finish after Cena introduced final yr that 2025 can be his final as a competitor.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e176/live/4b05dee0-d519-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images WWE superstar wrestler John Cena attends the Make-A-Wish celebration event for John Cena's 500th Wish Granting Milestone at Dave & Buster's Time Square on August 21, 2015 in New York City." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Cena reached his five hundredth wish-granting milestone in 2015

The retirement run

Explaining his reasoning on the time, he informed of the bodily toll wrestling had taken on his physique.

His profession has seen him endure a number of operations, together with on his neck, pec and triceps, with Cena saying in interviews that his "physique hurts" and is "screaming to shut the chapter".

Whereas the outdated saying "by no means say by no means" is a well-liked one, Cena has repeatedly stated he can be "100% performed" - and has obtained rousing receptions all over the world for his remaining appearances.

General, fan Joe is pleased with Cena's "retirement run", with matches in opposition to outdated rivals similar to AJ Kinds, Randy Orton and CM Punk, and newer stars together with Dominik Mysterio and Gunther.

He does really feel the "execution" of his remaining yr might have been higher although, with Cena's short-term "heel flip" (changing into a villain) on the Elimination Chamber occasion in March drawing criticism.

"It might have been dealt with higher," Joe says. "[But] he is had such a singular distinction of getting a retirement run that nobody's ever had earlier than.

"It is very unhappy to see him retire now. However I believe he stated it himself - it is the correct time."

Not that WWE followers won't ever see Cena once more; he has signed a five-year deal to be an envoy for the corporate.

Having received The Final Time Is Now match, it is former world heavyweight champion Gunther who can be Cena's one opponent in his remaining combat.

With it not being broadcast on terrestrial TV, however quite on streaming platforms, it has been reported that there isn't any time restrict on the match - and Gunther, who has by no means wrestled Cena earlier than, has been giving a lot robust discuss.

One factor's for certain: "You Cannot See Me" is perhaps the taunt Cena offers Gunther, however the final combat can be seen and remembered by many.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9e90/live/2b113040-d51d-11f0-8c06-f5d460985095.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="WWE via Getty Images John Cena lands a Five Knuckle Shuffle on AJ Styles during Crown Jewel at RAC Arena on October 11, 2025 in Perth, Australia." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> WWE by way of Getty Pictures John Cena lands a "5 Knuckle Shuffle" on AJ Kinds in Perth, Australia