The farewell tour is underway.
John Cena launched his retirement run during the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw on Jan. 6. A part-time performer since 2018, Cena said in July 2024 he planned to wrestle 30–40 matches in 2025 to close out his final year. WWE announced his final match will be Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. At an appearance at the Intuit Dome he named several possible opponents — Logan Paul, CM Punk and Roman Reigns among them.
Below are the standout moments from “The Last Time Is Now” tour.
Jan. 6 — Farewell Los Angeles; Rumble setup
On Raw’s first show of the year Cena declared it would be his last WWE appearance in Los Angeles and announced plans to win the Royal Rumble and chase a 17th world title, setting the tone for his final run heading into the Feb. 1 Royal Rumble in Indianapolis.
Feb. 1 — Royal Rumble
Cena came within reach of a Royal Rumble victory, left alone with Jey Uso in the final two, but Uso rallied and eliminated him to win the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble.
Mar. 1 — Elimination Chamber heel turn
Cena won the Elimination Chamber, his fourth victory in the match type, earning a title shot at WrestleMania. Immediately after, he turned on Cody Rhodes — viciously attacking him after a handshake and hug — cementing a heated rivalry and a renewed heel edge.
Mar. 17 — Booed in Brussels
On Raw in Belgium Cena leaned into a villainous persona with a scathing promo, calling out longtime critics and saying he didn’t need the fans, amplifying the tension heading toward WrestleMania.
April 20 — The final WrestleMania
Cena faced Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a memorable match that ran just under 20 minutes and featured an appearance from Travis Scott. Cena won, capturing a record-tying 17th world championship.
May 10 — WWE Backlash
In a veteran showdown with Randy Orton, the back-and-forth encounter saw interference and multiple RKOs. R-Truth’s late involvement allowed Cena to strike Orton with the championship belt and pin him for the victory.
June 7 — Money in the Bank
Cena teamed with Logan Paul against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. After dominant early moments for Cena, a miscommunication with Paul let Rhodes and Uso get back in control. A surprise R-Truth appearance shifted the endgame, positioning Rhodes to pin Cena and win the match.
June 28 — Night of Champions
A chaotic bout with CM Punk, marked by repeated interruptions and referees being knocked out, ended in Cena retaining his title. Seth Rollins appeared late with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed; Rollins ultimately struck Punk with the Money in the Bank briefcase, and Cena pinned Punk.
Aug. 3 — SummerSlam
Cena reverted to a babyface entrance for a brutal street fight with Cody Rhodes. The 30-plus-minute match ended with Rhodes pinning Cena to reclaim the WWE Championship, ending the reign Cena had begun at WrestleMania 41. After the match the two shared a moment of respect before Brock Lesnar returned and delivered an F-5 to Cena.
Sept. 1 — WWE Clash in Paris
In his final European outing Cena defeated Logan Paul in front of an electric Paris crowd. He even hit a Styles Clash on Paul before finishing with an Attitude Adjustment for the pin.
Sept. 20 — Wrestlepalooza
Cena faced longtime rival Brock Lesnar. He landed three Attitude Adjustments early, but Lesnar ultimately overpowered him. The crowd applauded Cena’s effort; another showdown with Lesnar is expected among his remaining matches.
Oct. 11 — Crown Jewel in Perth
Cena closed a top-tier rivalry by defeating AJ Styles in Perth, Australia. Both men paid tribute to other stars — Cena borrowed finishers associated with Randy Orton, The Miz and The Undertaker, while Styles answered with a Sweet Chin Music in homage to Shawn Michaels. The match ended with Cena victorious; fans chanted “Thank you, Cena” as the two embraced.
Nov. 11 — Monday Night Raw in Boston
Back in his native Massachusetts, Cena faced Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio after Triple H made the match in-ring. Mysterio hit a 619 and a Frog Splash but Cena rolled through and delivered an Attitude Adjustment for the pin. With the win Cena reached Grand Slam status, having now held WWE’s primary titles: Intercontinental, Tag Team, World Heavyweight and U.S.
What’s next
Cena’s farewell tour has mixed emotional peaks, hard-fought defeats and signature moments — from title wins and heel turns to tributes and tearful embraces. With a handful of matches remaining and the Dec. 13 finale set for Washington, D.C., the company and fans are watching closely as Cena completes his final chapter in the ring.
