John Cena’s retirement match will take place on December 13, 2025. The event, Saturday Night’s Main Event, will be held at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. WWE and TKO ultimately selected the city over Boston, intending to build a full destination weekend around Cena’s final appearance.
The company’s strategy involved inviting cities to submit bids to host the farewell. According to the bidding documents, the plan was always to create a larger tourism draw. This approach includes scheduling other attractions, such as an Undertaker one-man show, to encourage weekend-long attendance.
Boston officials strongly pushed to host Cena’s farewell. However, they became frustrated with WWE’s communication during the process. The city also found the company’s demands to be unfavorable when compared to past events.
Timing was another key factor in the decision. WWE and TKO believed that a December event in Boston during the busy holiday season was not ideal for a major tourism initiative.
Despite the final match being in D.C., Cena is still set for a significant Boston send-off. His last appearance for the Raw brand at the TD Garden is scheduled for November 10. He will then make his final New York City stop at Madison Square Garden on November 17.
In an official statement, WWE highlighted these appearances as key stops on his tour.
“John Cena to make his final appearances in Boston on Nov. 10 and New York City on Nov. 17,” the statement read. “WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, today announced that 17-time World Champion John Cena will make his final appearances in Boston and New York City when Monday Night Raw heads to TD Garden on Monday, Nov. 10, and Madison Square Garden on Monday, Nov. 17, as part of his farewell tour which comes to an end this December.”
While WWE has not officially named an opponent, speculation points to Brock Lesnar. The groundwork for this potential match was laid when Lesnar attacked Cena at SummerSlam on August 3. The two are also expected to face each other at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
Cena’s remaining schedule includes an appearance at Survivor Series in San Diego on November 29. His final SmackDown appearance is expected tonight, September 5, in Chicago.