Saturday’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show featured Gunther defeating Cena by making Cena tap out in his retirement match.
Emotions were running high as the fans chanted for John Cena before he entered the arena, and they sang his entrance music word for word as he made his way to the ring. As Cena was making his entrance he stopped to acknowledge Trish Stratus, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Elias, Booker T and more stars who were sitting in the front row.
The crowd was firmly behind John Cena as the match kicked off, and Gunther gained the early advantage, drawing chants of “asshole” and “f*ck you, Gunther” from the crowd. After a few minutes, Cena was able to build momentum with his signature offense. However, when Cena went for the AA, Gunther countered with a German suplex. Cena came back with the STF, but Gunther escaped.
Gunther regained the advantage with a powerbomb. He then took down Cena with multiple lariats, prompting the crowd to start a “Super Cena” chant. Cena mounted a comeback with another series of signature moves, followed by the AA, but Gunther kicked out.
After the fight spilled to the outside, Gunther set up the steel steps by the announce desk. Gunther went for a powerbomb, but Cena countered with an AA through the table. Cena got Gunther back in the ring and went for a cover, but Gunther kicked out.
Cena delivered a top-rope leg drop, but Gunther kicked out again. Cena led the crowd in one last “You Can’t See Me,” but Gunther popped up with a big boot. Gunther delivered a powerbomb, but Cena kicked out. Gunther then went up top, but Cena caught him and delivered a Super AA—yet Gunther kicked out once again.
After they traded blows, Gunther hit another powerbomb followed by a frog splash, but Cena was still able to kick out. Gunther applied another sleeper, and Cena kept trying to fight out but began to lose strength. Cena momentarily escaped, but Gunther reapplied the sleeper. Cena escaped again and hit another AA, but Gunther once again kicked out. Gunther immediately applied the sleeper again. The crowd chanted “Don’t give up” as Cena’s hand dropped twice but stayed up on the third attempt. However, Gunther reapplied the sleeper once again, and Cena finally tapped out.
End of an era. John Cena goes out putting over Gunther in his final match, tapping out to the sleeper hold. Thank you, Cena.
After the match, the crowd chanted “Bullshit” as Cena started to get up. They then chanted “Thank you Cena.” Cena acknowledged the crowd as the locker room emptied. The crowd booed Triple H and chanted “You fucked up.”
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes handed their titles to Cena and the crowd once again chanted “Thank you Cena.”
