John Cena's WWE Retirement Match Date Announced
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The date for John Cena's final WWE match has officially been set. The 17-time world champion will have his retirement match on a Saturday Night's Main Event special on Saturday, December 13th, which will stream exclusively on Peacock.
The announcement was made as part of a larger story detailing a new multi-year deal between WWE and NBCUniversal for the classic Saturday Night's Main Event series.
John Cena's Final Match Is Set
John Cena's in-ring career officially has an end date. While an opponent and location for the December 13th event have not yet been confirmed, the long-standing expectation is that the show will take place at the TD Garden in Boston, as Massachusetts is Cena's home state.
The announcement puts to rest rumors that WWE was considering moving the December special to a later date to compete with an AEW pay-per-view.
A New Deal For A Classic WWE Show
Cena's retirement match will air on a newly positioned Saturday Night's Main Event. The classic series, which returned as a quarterly special in 2024, will now stream exclusively on Peacock. Previously, the show had been simulcast on the NBC broadcast network.
John Cena during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
John Cena during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
Photo byAs part of the new deal, Peacock will also remain the home of the WWE Network's historical library through the end of 2025. NXT premium live events will also continue to stream on Peacock until March 2026. This comes as WWE's main roster premium live events are set to move to ESPN's new platform next month.
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
The End of an Era in WWE
John Cena's retirement will mark the true end of an era for WWE. Since his debut in 2002, he has been one of the most decorated and recognizable superstars in wrestling history. For over a decade, he was the undisputed face of the company, carrying the promotion on his back while winning a record-tying 17 world championships.
His 2025 farewell tour has been a celebration of his legendary career. It has seen him turn heel for the first time in two decades and engage in a series of blockbuster encounters.
John Cena's Final Stretch
With his final match now officially on the calendar, Cena has just a handful of dates left in his in-ring career. He is scheduled to face Logan Paul at the Clash in Paris premium live event on August 31. Following that, he is slated for a bout with Brock Lesnar at the WrestlePalooza event on September 20.
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