WWE Saturday Night's Main Event results, grades: Gunther taps out John Cena in final match as WWE says goodbye

Cena gave it all he had in his last match on Saturday night in Washington D.C.

John Cena's career came to a bittersweet end on Saturday. Cena battled valiantly against Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event, but was forced to tap out as Gunther relentlessly applied sleeper after sleeper to end the superstar's storied career.

Cena battled through Gunther's assault, including hitting multiple Attitude Adjustments, including one from a set of ring steps through the commentary desk, but Cena's best at 48 years old was not enough to overcome Gunther's aggression.

In the end, Cena was forced to tap out, an extremely rare occurrence in his career, giving Gunther a massive resume booster.

Cena ended the night surrounded by an appreciative locker room and fan base, riding off into the sunset as one of the best to ever set foot in a WWE ring.

CBS Sports was with you all night long with live updates and recaps from the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event card, results

Drew McIntyre runs in to ruin Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi

It was clear immediately that this would be Femi's power against Rhodes' speed and technique. Femi managed to hit a big back breaker while countering Rhodes. Femi began to work over Rhodes with strikes before throwing the undisputed WWE champion around the ring. Femi continued the assault with another backbreaker and a clothesline to the back of Rhodes' neck. Rhodes eventually moved out of the way of a Femi charge, sending Femi shoulder-first into the ring post and setting up a powerslam. Rhodes followed up with a Cody Cutter for a two-count.

After a Rhodes suicide dive, Femi beat him back to the ring to hit a spinebuster. After knocking Rhodes from the ring with a clothesline, Femi drove Rhodes over the commentary desk with a running European uppercut, which drew blood from Rhodes' ear. Rhodes came right back with another Cody Cutter for another two-count. Drew McIntyre then ran in and attacked Rhodes, leading to the disqualification. Femi got in McIntyre's face before shoving him to the ground. Rhodes hit McIntyre with a Cody Cutter and Femi followed up with a chokeslam, sending McIntyre scrambling from the ring. Rhodes and Femi raised each other's hands after the match. A kind of gutless ending. Femi getting the win would have been a great move, Rhodes winning would have been fine, hiding everything with a DQ just removes any meaning from the match happening to begin with. Cody Rhodes def. Oba Femi via disqualification -- Grade: B-

Sol Ruca hits the Sol Snatcher to score big win over Bayley

Ruca came back after a bit of chain wrestling from Bayley, walking on her hands before hitting a rana. Ruca followed up with another acrobatic counter into a facebuster. Ruca missed a moonsault to the outside, allowing Bayley to hit a forearm and regain control of the match. Shortly after, Ruca sent Bayley to the floor, allowing Ruca to hit a handspring diving moonsault to the outside.

A frustrated Bayley came back with a few hard shots before sending Ruca into the turnbuckles with a sunset flip. Ruca came back with a flurry of offense, culminating in a German suplex and a cartwheel DDT off the top rope. Right after, Bayley caught Ruca coming off the ropes with a Bayley-to-Belly for a near fall. Bayley hooked Ruca in the tree of woe before dropping an elbow for another two-count. Ruca flipped out of a Rose Plant attempt to hit a shining wizard for another near fall. After Bayley hit the Rose Plant, Ruca got her foot on the ropes to break the pin. Ruca got a knee up to block a top rope elbow drop and then hit the Sol Snatcher. Bayley tried to score a roll-up as Ruca went for the pin, but Ruca reversed and held on for the pin. After the match, Bayley raised Ruca's hand. A perfectly fine match, all told, though a bit clunky and a few too many spots that felt very awkwardly set up. Either way, it's a fair decision to have Ruca get the win. Sol Ruca def. Bayley via pinfall -- Grade: B

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee win a blistering sprint against Je'Von Evans and Leon Slater

Evans and Slater hit superkicks at the opening bell before both hit big dives to the outside. Slater followed up with a crossbody on Lee before Evans hit a frog splash for a near fall just seconds into the match. Lee came back with a few counters leading to a sit-out powerbomb on Slater. Styles came in with a flurry of big moves on both opponents before Evans countered with a right hand. Lee sent Slater flying from the ring apron with a rana, nearly allowing Styles to hit a Styles Clash outside before Slater hit a kick. Back in the ring, Evans hit the OG Cutter on Styles before Slater hit a swanton 450 for a two-count, before Lee broke up the pin.

Lee hit a dive on Evans, leaving Styles and Slater alone in the ring. A series of reversals nearly allowed Styles to hit the Styles Clash, before Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but he slipped off the top rope. Slater went to the top rope, but Styles caught him, hit a Styles Clash and scored the victory. This match was everything you'd expect, just a pure sprint with big moves all around. A slight ding for Styles' slip on the Phenomenal Forearm, but still just pure fun without doing more than needed. Dragon Lee & AJ Styles def. Je'Von Evans & Leon Slater via pinfall -- Grade: A-

Joe Hendry and R-Truth humiliate The Miz

Miz was in the ring to complain about not being involved in the evening despite having defeated John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania. R-Truth interrupted to say that Miz interfered with "Nick Aldis' balls," meaning the capsules containing names to enter the "Last Time is Now" tournament competitors. Truth handed Miz a capsule containing Joe Hendry's name. Hendry then appeared and he and Truth hit a series of moves, ending in Hendry hitting a Standing Ovation and pinning Miz while Truth made a three count.

John Cena taps out to Gunther in final career match

Neither man got an advantage in an early collar and elbow tie-up. Gunther got the advantage shortly after, and he drilled a heavy chop into Cena's chest. Cena caught a chop after a Gunther bodyslam, and it led to a pair of shoulder tackles, a side slam and the Five-Kuckle Shuffle. Cena tried to follow up with an Attitude Adjustment, but Gunther slipped out and hit a German suplex and a lariat before Cena avoided a sleeper hold. After some counters, Cena locked in the STF, which Gunther managed to break. Gunther hit a dropkick, sending Cena into the turnbuckle, and a powerbomb follow-up.

Gunther hit another lariat as he continued to tell the referee to ask Cena if he wanted to give up. Another lariat followed ... and another ... and another. Yet another lariat came after that, with Gunther looking to break Cena and force him to quit. Cena ducked the next lariat and hit the shoulder blocks to set up another Five-Knuckle Shuffle. This time, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment for a two-count. Gunther avoided a second Attitude Adjustment and hit a chop to the back before locking in the sleeper. Cena shoved out of the sleeper and locked in one of his own before Gunther got a foot on the bottom rope. Outside the ring, Gunther hit a chop, a slam on the ring apron, and sent Cena into the ring steps.

Gunther dragged a set of ring steps to the commentary desk, where he attempted to powerbomb Cena. Cena reversed and drove Gunther through the desk with an Attitude Adjustment. Back in the ring, Gunther kicked out of Cena's pin. Cena went for one more Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but Gunther hit a big boot and German suplex for another near fall. Gunther went to the top rope before being cut off by Cena. Cena hit a top rope Attitude Adjustment, but Gunther kicked out once again. The two men exchanged exhausted strikes in the center of the ring before Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but that was countered into a powerbomb. Gunther then hit a top rope splash for a two-count. Gunther locked in another sleeper. Cena tried to power out, but Gunther locked in the hold again, dragging Cena to the floor. Cena powered up again, this time nearly getting Gunther up for an Attitude Adjustment before Gunther locked in the sleeper again.

Gunther was on Cena's back, allowing Cena to slam him into the turnbuckle, but Gunther ran forward and locked in the hold again. Cena again broke the hold by driving Gunther into the turnbuckle, this time hitting an Attitude Adjustment. Gunther kicked out and again locked in the sleeper. As the ref checked Cena's arm, Cena held up his arm on the third drop, Gunther dropped a series of elbows and locked in the sleeper again, this time, Cena resigned himself to tapping out. This match was proof of why Gunther was the right final opponent for Cena. Gunther is a man who can put on a good match with anyone, and Cena did the right thing by not only losing, but tapping out to give Gunther that feather in his cap. It's hard to have asked for much more from Cena in his final match. Gunther def. John Cena via submission -- Grade: A

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk gave John Cena their championship belts

Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, and Punk, the world heavyweight champion, came to the ring with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and the locker room. Punk and Rhodes placed their belts on Cena's shoulders. Cena posed with the titles as the crowd booed Triple H for booking Cena to lose.

Cena raised the belts, with the crowd cheering every time. Cena handed the belts back to the champions and hugged Cena before a video played showing Cena's journey.

[Dec 13, 2025 at 10:14 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, and Punk, the world heavyweight champion, came to the ring with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and the locker room. Punk and Rhodes placed their belts on Cena's shoulders. Cena posed with the titles as the crowd booed Triple H for booking Cena to lose.

Cena raised the belts, with the crowd cheering every time. Cena handed the belts back to the champions and hugged Cena before a video played showing Cena's journey.

[Dec 13, 2025 at 10:08 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Neither man got an advantage in an early collar and elbow tie-up. Gunther got the advantage shortly after, and he drilled a heavy chop into Cena's chest. Cena caught a chop after a Gunther bodyslam, and it led to a pair of shoulder tackles, a side slam and the Five-Kuckle Shuffle. Cena tried to follow up with an Attitude Adjustment, but Gunther slipped out and hit a German suplex and a lariat before Cena avoided a sleeper hold. After some counters, Cena locked in the STF, which Gunther managed to break. Gunther hit a dropkick, sending Cena into the turnbuckle, and a powerbomb follow-up.

Gunther hit another lariat as he continued to tell the referee to ask Cena if he wanted to give up. Another lariat followed ... and another ... and another. Yet another lariat came after that, with Gunther looking to break Cena and force him to quit. Cena ducked the next lariat and hit the shoulder blocks to set up another Five-Knuckle Shuffle. This time, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment for a two-count. Gunther avoided a second Attitude Adjustment and hit a chop to the back before locking in the sleeper. Cena shoved out of the sleeper and locked in one of his own before Gunther got a foot on the bottom rope. Outside the ring, Gunther hit a chop, a slam on the ring apron, and sent Cena into the ring steps.

Gunther dragged a set of ring steps to the commentary desk, where he attempted to powerbomb Cena. Cena reversed and drove Gunther through the desk with an Attitude Adjustment. Back in the ring, Gunther kicked out from Cena's pin. Cena went for one more Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but Gunther hit a big boot and German suplex for another near fall. Gunther went to the top rope before being cut off by Cena. Cena hit a top rope Attitude Adjustment, but Gunther kicked out once again. The two men exchanged exhausted strikes in the center of the ring before Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but that was countered into a powerbomb. Gunther then hit a top rope splash for a two-count. Gunther locked in another sleeper. Cena tried to power out, but Gunther locked in the hold again, dragging Cena to the floor. Cena powered up again, this time nearly getting Gunther up for an Attitude Adjustment before Gunther locked in the sleeper again.

Gunther was on Cena's back, allowing Cena to slam him into the turnbuckle, but Gunther ran forward and locked in the hold again. Cena again broke the hold by driving Gunther into the turnbuckle, this time hitting an Attitude Adjustment. Gunther kicked out and again locked in the sleeper. As the ref checked Cena's arm, Cena held up his arm on the third drop, Gunther dropped a series of elbows and locked in the sleeper again, this time, Cena resigned himself to tapping out. This match was proof of why Gunther was the right final opponent for Cena. Gunther is a man who can put on a good match with anyone, and Cena did the right thing by not only losing, but tapping out to give Gunther that feather in his cap. It's hard to have asked for much more from Cena in his final match. Gunther def. John Cena via submission -- Grade: A

[Dec 13, 2025 at 9:30 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Miz was in the ring to complain about not being involved in the evening despite having defeated John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania. R-Truth interrupted to say that Miz interfered with "Nick Aldis' balls," meaning the capsules containing names to enter the "Last Time is Now" tournament competitors. Truth handed Miz a capsule containing Joe Hendry's name. Hendry then appeared and he and Truth hit a series of moves, ending in Hendry hitting a Standing Ovation and pinning Miz while Truth made a three count.