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The clock is ticking on John Cena‘s illustrious WWE career. The record 17-time world champion returned to the company at the “Money in the Bank” show in July of 2024 and announced his retirement tour.
“Tonight I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” he said at the time.
“This farewell does not end tonight…RAW makes history next year when it moves to Netflix…that is history that is first, and I will be there…2025 Royal Rumble will be my last, the 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last, and I am hear to announce that in Las Vegas WrestleMania 2025 will be the last WrestleMania I will compete in.”
Cena went on to explain that he would work through the entirety of 2025, with his final match and appearance set for December of this year.
That match was supposed to take place in his hometown of Boston. But now that’s no longer the case.
WWE Sells John Cena’s Final Match To Washington D.C. Over Hometown Of Boston
Jon Alba of SI Wrestling reported Friday that Cena’s final appearance in Boston is set to come in November, meaning that the city will not be home to Cena’s final match in December.
WWE just announced John Cena will make his final appearance in Boston in November, which means his last match in December will not be there.
Sources indicated to me Boston went very hard for hosting it, but WWE wanted the city to cover costs it previously hadn’t for WWE events. pic.twitter.com/tycOJpPGBv
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) September 5, 2025
Instead, Alba reports that the final match will take place on Dec. 13 in Washington D.C. Alba states that D.C. outbid Boston for the event, and Boston officials were upset with the bidding process. The reported number involved is allegedly north of $7 million.
Alba also claims that Donald Trump’s connections with WWE and the TKO Group helped D.C. win the bid.
The move comes amid fans expressing their distrust of the TKO Group’s handling of the company. The group recently moved WrestleMania 42 from New Orleans to Las Vegas. Las Vegas also hosted WrestleMania 41 this past Spring. Reports also suggest the event could soon be held in Saudi Arabia.
It’s clear the TKO Group is happy to sell shows to the highest bidder. What’s not clear, however, is how fans will respond to that in the years to come.