10 Best John Cena Matches from His WWE Retirement Tour

John Cena

10- John Cena and Logan Paul vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso (Money in the Bank)

The tag team match at Money in the Bank featuring Cena and Logan Paul against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso was characterized by its immense star power and peculiar narrative. Though the babyfaces secured the win in a low-stakes contest, the match was noteworthy for laying subtle groundwork for future angles, particularly the eventual dissension between Cena and Paul. The bout felt slightly odd, fueled by post-event speculation from Paul himself that rapper Travis Scott was originally slated to be involved in a six-man tag. Despite being a lower-ranked match, it was a fine outing that efficiently served its purpose in setting up subsequent rivalries later in Cena's farewell run.

9- John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus vs. The Judgment Day (Raw at MSG, Nov. 17)

This feel-good six-man tag team match saw John Cena team with familiar fan favorites Rey Mysterio and Sheamus to take on The Judgment Day. The match came about after The Judgment Day attacked Cena, prompting a timely save from the former WWE Champions. The resulting contest was a high-energy, "house show-style beating" delivered by the babyface trio to their heel opponents. The match was pure fan service, highlighted by a memorable sequence where all three veterans simultaneously hit their signature Five Knuckle Shuffle. Crucially, this Raw victory cemented the final win of John Cena's illustrious career, ending his win column on a positive, nostalgic note. Moreover, this was also Cena's final appearance on the red brand at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

8- 2025 WWE Men's Royal Rumble Match

The 2025 Men's Royal Rumble Match was crucial to Cena’s final narrative, even though he was not the eventual winner. Entering at the number 23 spot, Cena lasted over thirty minutes and eliminated three competitors, injecting significant drama into the contest. The common fan implication was that the legendary veteran was destined to secure the win and main event WrestleMania one last time. This expectation made the finish all the more impactful when Jey Uso, defying the guaranteed outcome, successfully knocked Cena off the apron. This sequence provided one of the wildest and most shocking Royal Rumble wins of all time, fulfilling Cena’s role in elevating future stars.

7- John Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio (Intercontinental Championship Match, Raw, Nov. 10)

John Cena's emotional homecoming in Boston culminated in a major career milestone—winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Dominik Mysterio on Monday Night Raw. The atmosphere in the TD Garden was electric, providing a grand welcome from Triple H before Cena delivered a perfectly executed 15-minute television match. His victory meant he officially completed the career Grand Slam, a first-time accomplishment that thrilled the Boston crowd, the city that first cemented him as a star. The final pin count generated one of the loudest ovations of Cena's entire career, making this title win an unforgettable and majorly successful piece of his farewell run.

6- John Cena vs. Sami Zayn (United States Championship Match, SmackDown, Sept. 5)

John Cena’s SmackDown encounter against Sami Zayn for the United States Championship was highlighted as one of the stronger "bell-to-bell" matches of the entire retirement tour. The match had a strong narrative underpinning, as Zayn respectfully sought Cena’s permission to carry on the tradition of the US Open Challenge, a clear homage to Cena’s celebrated 2015 reign. This shared history set the stage for a dramatic and explosive TV bout described as a "barnburner." Unfortunately, the highly physical contest ended in a frustrating no-contest, denying the fans a clean finish when Brock Lesnar suddenly interfered, bringing the powerful action and Cena's final SmackDown contest to an abrupt and explosive halt.

5- Elimination Chamber Match (Undisputed WWE Championship No. 1 Contender)

The Elimination Chamber match, featuring a stacked lineup including CM Punk and Seth Rollins, proved to be a pivotal moment in Cena’s retirement saga. Competing to become the Number One Contender, the bout led to a significant shift in his character. After Rollins, who had been recently eliminated, attacked Punk outside the ring, Cena seized the moment, gladly taking the assistance to apply the STF and win the contest. This subtle act of accepting a cheater's aid served as critical foreshadowing. Moments later, Cena exploded the wrestling world by officially turning heel and "selling his soul" to a returning Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

4- John Cena vs. Logan Paul (Clash in Paris)

John Cena's physical performance against Logan Paul at WWE Clash in Paris was a highlight, silencing critics who suggested he had lost a step late in his career. The match was a crucial reminder that the 48-year-old still possessed the "juice" to compete at a high level during his final year. Paul's explosive natural athleticism proved to be the perfect counterpoint to Cena's experience, creating an energetic and compelling contest. The bout is widely considered to be one of Logan Paul's strongest showings in a WWE ring, further enhancing Cena’s reputation for making his opponents look phenomenal, even as his in-ring tenure was winding down.

3- John Cena vs. AJ Styles (Crown Jewel: Perth)

The last chapter in the historic rivalry between John Cena and AJ Styles took place at WWE Crown Jewel. Though the build-up was anticlimactic, occurring almost entirely off-screen, the two legends delivered a stellar performance in Perth. The encounter was less a traditional wrestling match and more an emotionally charged series of homages to the likes of Bray Wyatt, The Undertaker and Samoa Joe, filled with callbacks and nods to their storied careers and the peers who helped lay their groundwork. The bout served as a beautiful moment for both future Hall of Famers, allowing them to truly "receive their flowers" from fans around the world, proving their on-screen chemistry remained unparalleled even in the final years of their respective runs.

2- John Cena vs. Gunther (Saturday Night's Main Event XLII)

John Cena’s final WWE match saw him face the dominant Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event XLII, delivering an electric performance for his career cap. The story was simple but brilliant: Gunther’s strength versus Cena’s refusal to give up. What began awkwardly soon escalated into a dramatic, intense brawl and a test of survival, with "Big Match John" attempting to overcome the odds one final time. In a polarizing but respectful finish, Cena elevated Gunther into legendary status by submitting to the Austrian brute’s vicious submission hold. Tapping out and staring up at the lights was a tremendous, definitive note to end his storied career.

1- John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Championship Street Fight, SummerSlam)

The highly anticipated Undisputed WWE Championship Street Fight against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam tops the list as an all-time classic. Originally built around Cena's shocking heel turn, WWE abruptly reverted him to a babyface just two days prior, undermining the stipulation. Despite the narrative shift, both men delivered a career-defining, 30+ minute physical match, beating the life out of one another in an unexpected instant classic. The bout culminated with Cena dropping the championship and formally endorsing Rhodes as the face of the company, solidifying a legendary passing of the torch moment in one of Cena's final great performances.