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John Cena's Final Match Set for December 13

12/7/2025

24 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

WWE SmackDown on December 5 set the stage for John Cena's final match against Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C.
Gunther earned this opportunity by winning the "Last Time Is Now" tournament, defeating LA Knight in the finals.
The show also highlighted ongoing rivalries, including Cody Rhodes's intense feud with Drew McIntyre.
Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes.

History

Historical Context

The 2023 "Last Time Is Now" tournament concluded with Gunther's victory, reminiscent of Ken Shamrock's 1998 WWF King of the Ring win that launched his career. This event is significant as it sets the stage for John Cena's retirement match on December 13, 2025, highlighting the impact of wrestling tournaments on career trajectories and fan engagement, as seen in rivalries like Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre's.

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Story summary

WWE SmackDown on December 5 set the stage for John Cena's final match against Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C.
Gunther earned this opportunity by winning the "Last Time Is Now" tournament, defeating LA Knight in the finals.
The show also highlighted ongoing rivalries, including Cody Rhodes's intense feud with Drew McIntyre.
Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes.

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