John Cena’s Final Bow: WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event Promises an Unforgettable Finale

WWE is preparing to close out 2025 with a spectacular “Saturday Night’s Main Event” that will mark the end of an era as John Cena steps into the ring for his retirement match. The Capital One Arena in Washington will serve as the backdrop for this historic moment, where the legendary superstar who championed “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” throughout his illustrious career will face the formidable Gunther. The anticipation surrounding this match has reached fever pitch, particularly with Gunther’s bold declaration to make Cena submit—something that hasn’t happened since 2004 when Cena was still performing as the “Doctor of Thuganomics.” Since then, Cena has lived by his “Never Give Up” mantra, but fans are left wondering if his final match might see him break this long-standing tradition. This match represents not just the end of a career, but potentially the passing of the torch to a new generation of WWE superstars.

The event will showcase much more than just Cena’s farewell, with several exciting cross-brand matchups highlighting rising NXT talent alongside established WWE stars. In a particularly compelling non-title clash, NXT’s powerhouse champion Oba Femi will test his mettle against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, former NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca gets a massive opportunity against the veteran Bayley in what could be a star-making performance for the young competitor. The high-flying Je’Von Evans will join forces with TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater to challenge the technical prowess of WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. These matches represent WWE’s commitment to building future stars while honoring its legends, creating a perfect blend of nostalgia and forward momentum that has defined the company’s recent creative direction.

Wrestling experts widely believe that Cena, ever the professional, will choose to lose his retirement match to Gunther, consistent with the time-honored tradition of established stars “going out on their back” to elevate younger talent. This sentiment aligns with Cena’s recent comments about wanting to spotlight NXT performers on his final night in the ring. While WWE could certainly book Cena to win his farewell match—similar to how AEW handled Sting’s retirement at “Revolution 2024″—having Gunther defeat Cena would continue building “The Ring General’s” reputation as a legend-killer, following his victory over Goldberg in July. If Gunther does emerge victorious, wrestling insiders predict he’s more likely to force Cena to pass out rather than submit, preserving some aspect of Cena’s “Never Give Up” legacy while still putting Gunther over strongly.

The clash between Cody Rhodes and Oba Femi represents one of the night’s most intriguing matchups, pairing “The American Nightmare” with an NXT standout poised for main roster success in 2026. Femi, aptly nicknamed “The Ruler,” brings an imposing physical presence that makes him a credible threat even against the established Rhodes. However, given Rhodes’ ongoing feud with Drew McIntyre, a clean finish seems unlikely. Most predictions point toward McIntyre interfering, potentially leading to a no-contest result that would allow Femi to showcase his dominance by taking out both Rhodes and McIntyre in the aftermath. This booking would protect Rhodes while simultaneously elevating Femi as a legitimate future contender, exemplifying WWE’s long-term planning for talent development.

The tag team match featuring AJ Styles and Dragon Lee against Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater promises to be an in-ring spectacle, giving two promising young stars the opportunity to work with the legendary Styles before his anticipated retirement next year. Evans, only 21 years old and already nicknamed the “Young OG,” has been identified as a potential breakout star by many within the industry, with some arguing he’s already main-roster ready. Similarly, Slater’s impressive technical abilities make him another talent to watch. Despite the obvious talent of the younger team, Styles and Lee are expected to retain their championships, though the match will likely be structured to make Evans and Slater look strong in defeat. The primary goal appears to be showcasing Evans’ extraordinary athleticism on a bigger stage than his usual NXT appearances.

The women’s division will be represented by a compelling match between Bayley and Sol Ruca, with many considering Ruca to have the best chance among NXT performers to secure a victory at the event. SmackDown viewers are already familiar with Ruca from her previous main roster appearance challenging for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Zaria. However, given Bayley’s current storyline involvement with Lyra Valkyria in pursuing the tag team titles against multiple established teams including the Kabuki Warriors, Nia Jax and Lash Legend, and others, a Bayley victory seems most likely. Nevertheless, the match is expected to be competitive, giving Ruca valuable exposure against one of WWE’s most accomplished women’s wrestlers. This contest continues WWE’s commitment to developing its women’s division by creating opportunities for NXT talent to shine on bigger stages, even in defeat.