On Saturday, after a career spanning more than 2,300 matches, the final bell is set to ring for John Cena. The 17-time world champion will face Austrian wrestler Gunther, widely regarded as one of the most impressive and intense superstars in modern WWE, in what will be Cena’s last ever match.
However, the path to Cena’s swan song, despite being announced well over a year ago, has been anything but straightforward or universally acclaimed. What should have been a heartfelt farewell for one of WWE’s most-beloved figures has often felt needlessly convoluted, leaving a vocal segment of fans divided. Yet, in the realm of professional-wrestling retirements, this trajectory feels familiar, as history repeatedly demonstrates that stepping away from the squared circle is rarely a simple affair.
