John Cena is a famous wrestler and actor, whose career started when fellow wrestler Kurt Angle called for an open challenge on the June 27, 2002 episode of World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown. Cena answered the challenge and made his WWE debut as a good guy in traditional wrestling tights and boots. Soon, his character changed into a rapper, dropping freestlyes in the ring and wearing sneakers and baggy shorts, trying to stand out in a locker room full of established stars. At the time, it felt like a risky character choice to him and general managers, but it worked. His moments as the self-proclaimed “Doctor of Thuganomics” marked the beginning of a career that would go on to define WWE for over two decades.
After his debut, Cena quickly rose through the ranks. He became known for his strength, energy and never-give-up attitude. Moves like the “Attitude Adjustment” and “Five Knuckle Shuffle” became instantly recognizable, and his ability to either get cheers or boos from the crowd set him apart. Over the years, Cena won 17 World Championships, three Heavyweight Championships, five United States Championships, two Tag Team Championships and an Intercontinental Championship. He became one of the most popular stars of WWE, even during times when fans were skeptical of his skills. Love or hate him, he was always the center of attention.
Cena’s career was filled with major rivalries. He feuded with legends and top stars like Edge, Randy Orton, Batista and Triple H, constantly delivering main-event level matches. His battles with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson pushed him to another level of popularity, bringing in audiences beyond wrestling. Even when storylines became repetitive or overly-dramatic, Cena consistently carried the pressure that came with being one of WWE’s top stars.
Later in his career, Cena showed he was willing to evolve. His villain arc and physical attack of best friend Cody Rhodes involving The Rock and Travis Scott caught many fans off guard and proved he could still switch things up when necessary. That willingness to change, even late into his run, is part of what solidified his legacy. He wasn’t just a long-term champion, he adapted to different eras of WWE and remained relevant his entire career.
As Cena prepares to retire, WWE held The Last Time is Now tournament to determine who would face him in his final match. As the tournament concluded, Gunther emerged as the winner. Personally, this is not the ending I hoped for. Gunther is dominant and clearly successful, but he doesn’t feel like the right choice to close out Cena’s career. Cena spent years carrying WWE and should have his final match against someone who can also represent that legacy. His final opponent should be LA Knight, Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans or even Austin Theory.
Whether fans agree with the matchup or not, Cena’s place in WWE history is already secure. His retirement marks the end of an era that shaped modern wrestling, and no match can change that. Regardless of who stands across the ring from him, Cena walks away as one of the greatest of all time, a standard almost impossible to match.
Fans can stream Cena’s final match Saturday at 8 p.m EST on Peacock or Netflix internationally.
