When John Cena tapped out in his final pro wrestling match on Saturday, fans were shocked and even outraged. WWE’s main event, in Washington D.C., featured Cena against Gunther in Cena’s final match, which many expected him to either win or at least lose in style. 

Instead, Cena tapped against Gunther in a symbolic tribute to his catchphrase “Never Give Up”. This is seen as a passing of the torch or a testament to letting go, so he can build for the future. 

Many fans are upset that Cena lost the match, but it was a fitting end to a valuable and impressive career. Because Cena smiled as he tapped, the loss was a true moment of peace for the wrestler.

This loss also sets up the Gunther, whom Cena lost to. Gunther had previously won a 16-man match to be able to go against Cena, and he defeated stars like Je’Von Evans, LA Knight, and Carmelo Hayes.

After the win over Cena, Gunther will likely become WWE’s big star for the next few months or even years, as Roman Reigns is starting to slow down.

The 24-minute-long Cena match went viral on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Even a video of a fan getting Cena’s final high five took over the internet. 

After his loss, Cena had an emotional farewell to the fans and even the producers of the show. The locker room and staff surrounded him for his goodbye speech as he showed his love for the fans who got him to this point.

Without Cena, the wrestling entertainment world will feel different. It is officially the end of an era, with stars like Randy Orton, Tyson Kidd, and The Miz officially retiring as well. 

With this, a new era will arise, and it raises the question of whether the WWE will be able to continue its dominant streak over the wrestling entertainment industry. 

Cena plans on continuing his acting career and developing his future outside of wrestling now that he is officially retired.