News

WWE Planning Tribute To John Cena On December 12th SmackDown

By John Canton • Published Dec 12, 2025 15:55 EST
John Cena WWE Hat

John Cena won’t be on the final WWE SmackDown before he retires, but his presence will be felt.

There is one more appearance left in John Cena’s career as an active WWE superstar. That match will take place on Saturday, December 13th, at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C., when he faces Gunther, who won the Last Time Is Now Tournament to earn the match.

The final SmackDown before SNME is on December 12th in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. John Cena won’t be there, but WWE has announced that there will be a Cena tribute during the show.

Take a special look at John Cena’s incredible career just 24 hours before The Greatest of All Time competes in his final match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

SmackDown spotlights The Never Seen 17, tonight at 8e/7c on USA.

In addition to the John Cena tribute, WWE is also advertising the matches and segments.

  • Cody Rhodes speaks before battling NXT Champion Oba Femi
  • Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley reunite to take on Aleister Black and Zelina
  • Alexa Bliss battles Lash Legend
  • Ilja Dragunov defends the United States Title against Tommaso Ciampa

John Cena’s Match With Gunther Will Headline WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the 17-time WWE World Champion John Cena confirmed his match with Gunther will be in the main event of Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th. There were rumors suggesting the match may go on first, but Cena made it clear it’s the main event.

“That is pizzagate, homie. I was on Jimmy Kimmel, I said I’m ending the show. I said, ‘I normally go to bed early but I’m going to have to stay up late for this one.’ I guess people didn’t read between the tea leaves. We’re last.

I don’t know how the rumor started. I think some folks with credibility like to kick a hornet’s nest and get people chattering. I understand, we’re in the age of information and what’s going to keep my attention. ‘You’re not last?’ Sure, that’ll keep my attention. I don’t know how that started. It’s difficult to conceptualize that.

I don’t make the menu. If I show up tomorrow and they want me to go on first, that’s what I’ll do, but we are last at this moment.”

The four-match card at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th looks like this:

  • John Cena vs. Gunther in Cena’s final WWE match
  • Sol Ruca vs. Bayley
  • WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater in a non-title match
  • WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi in a non-title match

Make TJR Wrestling your choice for news by clicking here.

John Cena Final WWE Match