WASHINGTON: The 17-time WWE world champion John Cena bid an emotional farewell to in-ring competition after suffering a defeat to Gunther on Saturday here at the Capital One Arena.
At Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cena ended on the losing side to former two-time WWE heavyweight champion Gunther, bringing curtains to an illustrious 23-year career.
The farewell night featured numerous celebrities and wrestling icons, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Trish Stratus, Eve Torres, and others, who were shown seated ringside.
Moreover, the video tributes aired featured legends such as The Undertaker and The Rock, alongside sports stars including Tom Brady and Jalen Brunson.
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Gunther entered the ring first, followed by a thunderous ovation for Cena; however, the familiar “Cena sucks” chant was absent, replaced entirely by supportive cheers.
The 48-year-old Cena entered the wrestling arena with a camera to film himself before sprinting to the ring and greeting the legends seated at ringside.
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Nonetheless, the match saw ups and downs, with Cena delivering three Attitude Adjustments, including a dramatic top-rope version. The ace wrestler even put Gunther through the announce table.
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However, despite multiple attempts, John Cena was unable to secure a pinfall victory.
Eventually, Gutnerh emerged victorious at the end of the historical match, forcing Cena to submit to a sleeper hold after multiple escape attempts.
After the match, Cena, on this occasion, addressed the crowd, stating, “That’s all I’ve got”.
After this, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes joined Cena and placed their championship belts on his shoulders. As the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Cena”, he shared an embrace with Triple H before one final tribute video was shown.
Cena then made his way back to the entrance ramp, saluting the crowd, and exited the arena for one final time.