John Cena’s retirement match ended in defeat, sparking an angry reaction from fans who booed WWE boss Triple H and chased Gunther out of the building, forcing security to step in
Angry WWE fans booed company boss Triple H and chased wrestler Gunther out of the arena after John Cena tapped out out in the final match of his career.
The crowd at Washington’s Capital One Arena barracked Triple H with chants of “bulls**t” and “you f***ed up” as he made his way to the ring after the final bell in Saturday Night’s Main Event.
And shocking footage emerged of Gunther needing a security escort to his vehicle as he left the building following the show as an angry mob of fans harassed him and chanted “f**k you Gunther.”
Moments early, 17-time world champion Cena had brought down the curtain on his glittering 26-year career by tapping out after a struggle as Gunther applied his Gojira Clutch signature move, a variation of a rear naked choke hold.
It was only the fourth time Cena had submitted during his career – and the first time in 21 years.
The match capped off a year-long retirement tour and saw the WWE legend hit his signature moves, including the Five Knuckle Shuffle and the Attitude Adjustment, which Michael Cole called the F-U on commentary, a nod to its previous name during Cena’s early run.
But Cena, 48, went out in defeat – despite breaking Gunther’s hold a number of times – when he looked dead into the camera and gave a slight smile to tv viewers before tapping out for the first time since 2004.
Current champions Cody Rhodes and CM Punk entered the ring to pay their respects and draped their titles over Cena’s shoulders in a silent salute.
But their gesture was overshadowed by the crowd’s reaction to Triple H, real name Paul Levesque, who is in charge of the company’s creative direction.
Angry boos greeted his presence and fans did not hold back in sharing their thoughts on the finish of the match, despite it being tradition for a departing wrestler to lose and “put over” their opponent on their way out.
And chaotic scenes followed the event outside as fans distraught at the result swarmed former World Champion Gunther as he left the building.
The star was seen after the show walking away with security and was seen rushing to his car as fans booed and jeered him.
Before the show went off the air, Cena took one final bow and spoke into the camera one final time and told fans: “It’s been a pleasure serving you all these years, thank you.”
It was the second retirement match that Gunther has won in 2025 after earlier beating Bill Goldberg in his last bout.
During his final run, Cena turned heel for the first time in his career at Elimination Chamber in March, before switching back to baby face after it failed connect with with fans.
He beat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed title at WrestleMania to break the record for the most world titles of any wrestler in history, beating Ric Flair’s historic record.
During his career, he won every title in the WWE and made the dreams of more than 650 people come true with the Make-A-Wish foundation, the most of any celebrity in history.
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