How he got to the top of WWE

The last time is now. This was the name of an event where 16 wrestling titans would compete to have John Cena’s sole opponent in his final match before his retirement.

On Saturday night, the final match will take place in Washington, D.C., bringing the curtain down on the American’s illustrious career as one of wrestling’s biggest and most profitable stars.

In the 8,570 days since his debut, Cena has won 17 world titles and coined the iconic “You Can’t See Me” slogan – but the 48-year-old’s influence goes far beyond that.

If you ask “Who is John Cena?”, depending on who you ask, the answer may vary, ranging from a legendary WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) superstar to a successful movie actor, while some would say he is Mr. Make-A-Wish (more on that later).

How to watch John Cena’s final match:

• Start time: WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is set to begin on Sunday, December 14 at 01:00 GMT
• Where to watch: In the UK, you can watch it for free on WWE’s official YouTube channel. Available to watch on Netflix internationally and in the US on Peacock

His own wrestling persona has evolved since his debut in 2002 – from a “ruthlessly aggressive” rookie to the “Dr. Thuganomics” rapper, and ultimately to a heroic persona known for his “never give up” attitude.

Brandon Thurston, editor and owner of wrestling website Wrestlenomics, said that while some fans have criticized his in-ring abilities, occasionally chanting “You can’t wrestle” over the years, “there’s no question he’s an outstanding wrestling talent.”

He felt something changed in 2005, after which WWE became “increasingly scripted in ways it never had before” as it entered a more controlled, family-friendly PG era. But Cena managed to thrive.

“I would say from about 2005 to about 2015, he was definitely the most attractive,” Mr. Thurston said. Senna merchandise also regularly became the company’s top-selling products.

“Without a doubt, he was the most important financial wrestler of that period in WWE – in terms of pay-per-view buys (which was still central to that era), TV ratings and family programming appeal.”

Outside the ring, Mr. Thurston said, he was also a personality “people were drawn to and listened to,” and wrestling fans like Joe Clarkson and Sabrina Nicole shared that feeling.

Joe, 24, who was five when he first saw Cena on TV, said: “It’s absolutely fascinating to work in such a physically demanding industry for such a long time.”

“I think over time people have grown in respect for him, not just as a performer but as an individual.”

For Sabrina, 37, who remembers Cena’s WWE debut in 2002, it was “his charisma.”

“There was always something about him that made him a star,” she said, adding that for much of his career he “always maintained the image of a good guy.”

“No matter what the crowd is, no matter what the fans think of him. He’s proven that if you have a really good character, you can be the best,” she said.

Cena did seem to seize an opportunity that exceeded his ability and personality.

With The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin no longer full-time performers, WWE bosses are looking for a new star to emerge.

Brandon feels leadership in WWE It was acknowledged that Senna “will be a very reliable and extremely hard-working person who they can entrust to such a position”.

It is widely believed in the wrestling community that Cena’s final decision as a star was ultimately made by then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.

While Cena is known for following his gut, judgment will also be made on Cena’s ability to connect with an enthusiastic audience on the mic, his marketability and whether he can stay in the industry long enough to become profitable.

When Cena began taking more time away from wrestling and working less hours in 2015, Mr. Thurston felt there was a “decline” in the WWE product.

Other wrestling experts say Cena’s presence over the years has helped slow WWE’s declining ratings. According to analysis by wrestling website PWtorchAverage viewership for its flagship weekly Raw show dropped by 1 million between 2010 and 2015, to 3.7 million.

Dr. Gillian Brooks, associate professor of marketing at King’s Business School, added that Cena has achieved so much in wrestling that he could “come in and be a wrestler and leave,” but she said Cena has built an authentic personal brand.

One of the brands Cena has worked with is Neutrogena, which became the face of the brand’s sunscreen campaign after he revealed he suffered from skin cancer spots, which he attributed to his lack of sunscreen.

He also holds the Guinness World Record for the number of wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting more than 650 wishes for children with serious illnesses. He revealed that the partnership started “by accident” but he has been in it since 2002, describing it as “the coolest thing”.

“If you think about it from a child’s perspective, they see someone they saw on TV or in a movie, and then all of a sudden they meet him,” Dr. Brooks said. “The fact that he’s doing charity work, he’s written a children’s book, he’s made movies, he’s composed music… all of that shows that he’s not a one-show pony.

“It feels very real and very pure about him.”

Cena’s personal brand and his charisma will remain, but his time in the ring appears to be over after Cena announced last year that 2025 would be his last as a competitor.

In explaining his reasoning at the time, he recounted the toll wrestling took on his body.

He has undergone multiple surgeries over the course of his career, including on his neck, pecs and triceps, and Cena said in interviews that his “body was in pain” and was “screaming to end this chapter.”

While the old saying “never say never” is popular, Cena repeatedly said he would be “100% done” – and his final appearance was met with rapturous reception around the world.

Overall, Fan Joe is pleased with Cena’s “retirement tour,” which will see him compete against old rivals like AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and CM Punk, as well as rising stars like Dominic Mysterio and Gunther.

However, he does feel that his final year of “Execution” could have been better, as Cena’s brief “heel turn” (to being a villain) at Elimination Chamber in March drew criticism.

“This could have been handled better,” Joe said. “(But) he has such a unique retirement experience that no one has had before.

“It’s sad to see him retire now. But I think he said it himself – it’s time.”

It’s not that WWE fans will never see Cena again; He has signed a five-year deal to serve as an ambassador for the company.

After winning the Last Time Is Now tournament, former World Heavyweight Champion Gunther will face Cena in his final match.

Since the match is not being televised on terrestrial television but on a streaming platform, there will reportedly be no time limit on the match, and Gunther, who has never wrestled Cena before, has been making strong statements.

One thing is for sure: “You Can’t See Me” may have been Cena’s taunt to Gunther, but the final fight will be seen and remembered by many.