John Cena's Retirement Match Sets All-Time WWE Record

Cena's final WWE match broke the record for biggest live gate for an arena-sized show in history.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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John Cena's retirement match at the WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in December 2025 set a new record for the biggest live gate for an arena-sized show in wrestling history, grossing $6,553,883. The match, which saw Cena lose to Gunther, was part of Cena's farewell tour and featured up-and-coming WWE talent like Sol Ruca and Oba Femi on the undercard.

Why it matters

Cena's retirement match and tour were a major success for WWE, highlighting the enduring popularity of the legendary wrestler while also showcasing the next generation of talent. The record-breaking live gate demonstrates the continued drawing power of Cena and the excitement around his final match.

The details

Cena faced Gunther in the main event of the record-breaking WWE Saturday Night's Main Event show, with Gunther earning the opportunity to face Cena in his final match by winning the Last Time Is Now tournament. Cena fought hard but ultimately tapped out to Gunther's sleeper hold, marking the first time Cena had ever tapped out to lose a match.

  • The WWE Saturday Night's Main Event show took place on December 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
  • Cena's final WWE match broke the previous arena gate record of $4,898,365, which was set at the Intuit Dome early in 2025 for the first-ever episode of WWE Raw on Netflix.

The players

John Cena

A legendary WWE wrestler who was part of a successful retirement tour in 2025, culminating in his final match against Gunther.

Gunther

A rising WWE star who earned the opportunity to face Cena in his final match by winning the Last Time Is Now tournament.

Sol Ruca

An up-and-coming WWE talent who wrestled and beat Bayley on the undercard of Cena's retirement show.

Oba Femi

An up-and-coming WWE talent who wrestled Cody Rhodes in the opening match of Cena's retirement show, which ended in a no-contest.

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What’s next

Ruca is scheduled to face Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women's Championship next week on NXT, while Femi is being courted by both Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis for contracts on Raw and SmackDown.

The takeaway

Cena's retirement match and tour were a major success for WWE, not only breaking records but also showcasing the next generation of talent and highlighting Cena's enduring popularity and impact on the sport.