John Cena Tapped Out in His Final Match — Fans Hated It, But WWE Got the Ending Exactly Right
John Cena’s last WWE match wasn’t supposed to feel good — and that’s exactly why it worked. At Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, the 17-time world champion stepped into the ring one final time under the fitting banner *“The Last Time Is Now.” Across from him stood Gunther, and by the end of the night, the unthinkable had happened: John Cena tapped out.
The moment was painful. The crowd was stunned. And for many fans, it felt wrong. Seeing the face of WWE for over two decades end his career in defeat was hard to accept. But once the emotions settle, the reality becomes clear — this was the only ending that truly made sense.
Gunther didn’t just beat Cena; he dismantled the myth. Cena fought the way he always has, digging deep, refusing to quit, and pushing through pure willpower. But nostalgia wasn’t enough this time. When Gunther locked in his submission, the message was unmistakable: time had finally won.
The reaction was immediate and intense. Boos echoed through the arena, especially when Paul “Triple H” Levesque embraced Cena after the match. Fans wanted a miracle. A final heroic stand. Maybe even one last victory. Instead, WWE gave them something far more honest.
Cena didn’t rage. He didn’t complain. He smiled through the pain, tapped out, and accepted the moment with humility. After the bell, he thanked the fans who had followed his journey for more than 20 years, soaking in the applause before quietly walking away from the ring for the last time.
In wrestling, this is how legends leave. Not by protecting themselves, but by lifting the next generation. Steve Austin lost to The Rock. Ric Flair lost to Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels lost to The Undertaker. Now, John Cena joins that sacred list.
It hurt. It felt uncomfortable. It didn’t give fans the fairytale goodbye they wanted.
But it was real.
And it was the right ending.
