John Cena will face Gunther in his retirement match in WWE’s Saturday Night Main Event on December 13.
The ‘Ring General’ secured the spot by defeating LA Knight in the finals of the ‘Last Time is Now’ tournament on the December 5 episode of SmackDown.
Given Gunther’s reputation as one of WWE’s best pure wrestlers, his selection as Cena’s final opponent is no surprise. He had long been rumored for the role and entered the month-long 16-man tournament as the favorite to win.
Gunther also has a history of ending WWE legends’ careers on a high note, as he defeated Goldberg in their last match at the same event in July.
This upcoming match will mark the first meeting between Cena and Gunther in the ring. Gunther will have the opportunity to end Cena’s career with a victory, while the 17-time WWE Champion could conclude his historic career with a final victory over the “Ring General.”
On Friday Night SmackDown, Knight and Gunther battled with the intensity of a championship match, with Cena’s retirement clearly on the line. After a fierce exchange, Gunther locked Knight in a Rear-Naked Choke.
Knight briefly broke free, only for Gunther to overpower him again with a modified STF, sending a direct message to Cena. Despite Knight’s valiant resistance, he eventually submitted, allowing Gunther to assert his dominance and set the stage for his showdown with Cena.
Since his debut in 2002, Cena has been a cornerstone of WWE, delivering countless iconic matches and moments beloved by fans around the world.
Now, the ‘Never Seen 17’ will take their final bow, with Gunther as their final opponent. The WWE Universe now awaits what promises to be an emotional farewell for one of wrestling’s biggest stars.
