Bold statement: Saturday Night’s Main Event caps off an era as John Cena’s final bow hits the ring. The moment fans have anticipated for years is here, and we’ll be with you from the opening bell to the curtain call. Thank you, John.
Tonight’s message is loud and clear: WWE loves John Cena, and for good reason. Not only did he help fill arenas and drive merchandise, but he also carried himself with a rare warmth that teammates and rivals alike respected. The locker room speaks volumes about his character, and the sentiment echoes in every tribute tonight.
Oba Femi, the NXT champion, admitted this stage is the biggest he’s competed on as he prepares for a non-title clash with Cody Rhodes—an indication that Femi is ready to translate his success on NXT to the main roster, with Rhodes’ reign currently in the spotlight.
Kurt Angle makes a memorable entrance, reconnecting Cena with the moment Cena first arrived on SmackDown and came up just short of a milestone victory against a gold medalist. Angle’s appearance nods to Cena’s long journey from breakout rookie to WWE icon.
Jesse Ventura returned to the spotlight after a controversial critique of a cage match that let a wrestler escape rather than be pinned. Tonight, Ventura appears in a playful nod to Ruthless Aggression history, sporting a Randy Savage-inspired beard to honor fellow Hall of Famer, and humorously placing himself near the top of his personal Mount Rushmore alongside Cena, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Voice your thoughts: what’s your all-time favorite Cena moment? While Cena has never been my personal favorite, his evolution—from larger‑than‑life character to a craft that earned him enduring respect—made him a standout performer whose segments often shone brighter than the matches themselves.
My personal pick remains Cena vs. Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand 2006. That night didn’t just resurrect ECW; it elevated RVD’s championship run and delivered a memorable, crowd-popping clash in a hostile atmosphere. Cena’s showmanship mattered, but the moment belonged to the room and the momentum Van Dam created.
What about you—what’s your favorite Cena match?
Event timing and coverage:
- Saturday Night’s Main Event, featuring John Cena’s final match, airs this Saturday, December 13.
- The main card begins at 8:00 p.m. ET, with Cena expected to appear in the closing segment.
- A preshow starts at 6:00 p.m. ET on Peacock and WWE social channels, offering previews, interviews, and analysis.
Viewing options:
- In the United States, Saturday Night’s Main Event streams exclusively on Peacock.
Main card lineup:
- John Cena vs. Gunther
- WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi
- Bayley vs. Sol Ruka
- AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater
What to expect for Cena’s final night: while the exact entrance time isn’t locked, Cena is positioned as the headline attraction, and the match with Gunther is anticipated to be a defining, emotional close to Cena’s competitive career. There’ll be room for closure, reflection, and the occasional surprise as fans remember Cena’s impact and the era he helped shape.
