John Cena recently lost because his final matches were booked to elevate younger stars and bring his in-ring career to a definitive close. In story terms, he was portrayed as a legendary veteran finally being overcome by the new generation.
His final WWE match
In his last WWE match, Cena lost to Gunther by submission at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C., tapping out after being caught in a sleeper hold. This was presented as his official retirement bout, with Cena leaving his boots in the ring afterward as a symbolic farewell.
Why he was booked to lose
Reports and analysis indicate that Cena wanted to “do the honors” on his way out, using his retirement to solidify Gunther as a top star and strengthen his finishing hold. Putting over a younger talent in a decisive way is a long- standing wrestling tradition, especially for someone of Cena’s stature.
Other recent key loss
Shortly before that, Cena also lost the Intercontinental Championship to Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series 2025 after interference from Liv Morgan. This result both advanced storylines around Judgment Day and further emphasized the theme of Cena transitioning out while pushing newer characters.
