Bold statement: Even legends can face a moment where the unthinkable happens, and John Cena’s career milestone proves that no one is invincible to the tap-out moment.
John Cena has long been synonymous with the motto “never give up.” Yet on a recent Saturday, he stepped into the unfamiliar and submitted, losing to Gunther in the final match of Cena’s storied career. While submission defeats aren’t new in Cena’s long history, this one marked the first time in over twenty years that he tapped out.
Below is a comprehensive recap of every instance Cena has submitted in his wrestling journey.
- WWE SmackDown (July 18, 2002) – Chris Jericho forced Cena to submit with the Walls of Jericho after their bout, though the outcome was ruled a disqualification.
- WWE No Mercy 2003 (October 19, 2003) – Kurt Angle made Cena tap with the Ankle Lock.
- WWE SmackDown (December 4, 2003) – Chris Benoit captured a submission win over Cena via the Crippler Crossface.
- WWE No Way Out 2004 (February 15, 2004) – Kurt Angle again wore Cena down to tap with the Ankle Lock.
- WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (December 13, 2025) – Gunther secured a submission victory over Cena with a sleeper hold.
For fans seeking more details, Fightful’s coverage of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is available here: https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-saturday-nights-main-event-results-12-13-2025-john-cenas-final-match-cody-rhodes-vs-oba-femi-more/ . The post-show podcast with a full review can be found here: https://youtu.be/C8RubocYW3c.
If you’d like, I can expand this with brief background on each opponent’s style, or add context about how Cena’s submission losses shaped his career and rivalries. Would you prefer more ring-side details, or a broader look at the storyline implications of each tap-out moment?
