Come November, John Cena was still without an opponent for his last match, so an announcement was made during November 1, Saturday Night’s Main Event, that his last opponent would be determined through an all-inclusive tournament featuring stars from RAW, SmackDown, NXT, TNA, and anywhere else.

The Last Time is Now

The Last Time is Now tournament kicked off on November 10. The tournament showcased some very good matches and a few surprises, like the returns of Cena’s old friends and part-time foes, Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler (TNA’s Nic Nemeth). The tournament was ultimately won by the man who ended Goldberg’s career in July, “The Ring General” Gunther.

On November 10, RAW returned to (close to) John Cena’s hometown, Boston, MA. Cena defeated Intercontinental champion, Dirty Dom Mysterio, becoming a Triple Crown winner and Grand Slam champion. Dirty Dom was granted a rematch at the Survivor Series in Dom’s hometown, San Diego, CA.

At the Survivor Series, Dirty Dom embraced his inner Eddie Guerrero and lied, cheated, and stole to win back the title. Dom’s Judgment Day stablemates did their best to help Dom win it by interfering every chance they got. Eventually, Dom’s on-screen girlfriend, Liv Morgan, who had revealed that she has a crush on Cena, ran to the ring, slapped Dom, and jumped into Cena’s arms.

This stunned the fans and Cena himself. Then she got that same cold look in her eyes that he had seen ten months prior, before she kicked him in his “John Weena” and hit him in the face with the IC title. A stunned Mysterio hit a Frog Splash for the win.

As good as this match was, I would have done one of two things differently. I would have either allowed Cena to win, only to drop the title in his final match. Or I never would have put the IC strap on him in the first place. He did not need the belt for his legacy. I think a 19-day reign looks worse than having never held the title at all.

Never Give Up

The day had finally come—Cena’s last match. The fanfare around his farewell was fantastic. WWE put together some emotional and powerful goodbyes and tributes for the GOAT. WWE legends such as Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, Trish Stratus, and Kevin Owens came out to watch a legend’s goodbye. Gunther didn’t care. He wasn’t having it. He just wanted to make him tap out.

Gunther controlled the pace of the match. Striking early and often with a plethora of uppercuts and chops, gaining the early advantage. Cena fought back and took back some momentum with a series of Five-Knuckle Shuffles and Attitude Adjustments.

Every time it seemed like Cena was fighting out of trouble, Gunther pummeled him back down with suplexes, power bombs, and sleepers. Gunther trapped him in a sleeper, which Cena resiliently battled out of multiple times, but couldn’t escape. He managed to hit a few AAs on Gunther, but The Ring General, living up to his “career killer” moniker, caused him to give up. John Cena tapped out with a smile on his face. He had given it all he had and had accepted defeat.

Fans were furious and stunned. Their “Never Give Up” hero gave up. The WWE roster came out and surrounded the ring. Current champions CM Punk and Cody Rhodes entered the ring and draped their titles over his shoulders in a symbolic gesture of respect. Cena absorbed the cheers and adoration from the crowd as he removed his sneakers and trademark armbands in the middle of the ring… his symbolic gesture to the crowd. He left all he had in that ring. John didn’t give up. He went out on his own terms.

I CAN See You

The fans vocalized their feelings. They shouted obscenities and booed Gunther, Triple H, and WWE. I am booing The Rock. Where have you been? You inserted yourself into Cena’s final chapter, ruined his heel turn, and left. Was there a plan? There was no reason for you to be there. You didn’t take John’s soul. You took the soul out of his goodbye.

My lasting memory of Cena’s final match will be looking over at my son, who is wearing his Farewell Tour t-shirt, bawling his eyes out because John gave up, cursing Gunther behind his tears, while my daughter was fighting back tears of her own because he was her first favorite wrestler.

She had the t-shirts, dog tags, and poster on her wall before her other interests had replaced wrestling, but she is still a wrestling nerd at heart, whether she likes to admit it or not. We all watched the same match, with varying emotions and memories. We all witnessed the end of an era, though I was the only one who saw it from the beginning.

I met John Cena about 24 years ago. When he was still a Prototype of a pro wrestler, trying to earn his place in the spotlight. Before he challenged Kurt Angle with his “Ruthless Aggression.” Before the ball cap and jorts. He was a great guy. I remember how he took the time to chat with my brother and me after a show. My kids remember different versions of the same man. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for giving my children their first “favorite” wrestler. Thank you for never giving up. I see you. Thank you, John.