While John Cena received some praise from his final opponent this week, it wasn’t all smiles and rainbows.
Before Cena’s final match — which will come on Saturday, December 13, at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C. — his opponent, Gunther, told People that “it’s undeniable” that Cena is “the greatest of all time.”
But in the same breath, Gunther promised to make Cena tap out for the first time in his career.
“It means everything to me to have the opportunity to spoil John Cena’s last match,” Gunther told the outlet on Friday, December, 12.
Gunther, 38, joined WWE in 2022 and is a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Cena, meanwhile, is a 17-time WWE world champion who has been competing for the last 23 years.
Gunther earned the spot as Cena’s final opponent by winning the Last Time Is Now tournament, a special tournament put on by WWE to determine who would face Cena for his final match.
“It’s undeniable: He’s the greatest of all time,” Gunther said to People.
Ahead of the bigtime matchup, fans and wrestlers took to social media to celebrate Cena and his legacy in the sport.
WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle posted a throwback photo of himself in the wrestling ring with Cena, wishing him well as he finishes his wrestling career.
“Who in the hell are you? I’m John Cena,” Angle wrote on his post via X. “From his unforgettable moments in the ring to his inspiring presence outside of it, John Cena has truly left an indelible mark on the world of sports entertainment. I am proud to have been part of his journey, and what a ride it has been for him. His dedication, resilience, and passion have inspired countless fans and peers alike.
He continued, “As he embarks on his well-deserved retirement, I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life. Enjoy your last ride, John….a legend forever. Welcome to retirement, my friend.”
Cena began his career by wrestling Angle in 2002, and has since become one of the most iconic WWE wrestlers of all time.
While Angle — an Olympic gold medalist — beat Cena in that first bout, it was a hard-fought match, as is tradition for retiring wrestlers to welcome in new competitors.
Wrestlers will often lose their final match — or at least make it ultra-competitive — as a way to pass the torch to the next generation.
“Obviously it’s a big deal and I am proud to be in that situation,” Gunther told People. “I came up in Europe and took a different route to WWE than everybody else and I represent a little bit of the new wave of wrestlers to have come into WWE recently. I guess if you compare it like that, it really is a passing of the torch match because it’s two different styles and two completely different generations.”
He added, “It makes me proud to be the guy that got picked for that.”
