wrestling / TV Reports
Ciocco’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event: The Last Time is Now Review 12.13.25
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Well, we all knew this day was bound to come. While they say that Father Time is undefeated, they also say that retirements in wrestling are not forever. However, tonight (and in the days, months, and years that follow) will test that theory out and see how legitimate it will be.
Tonight, live from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, marks the end of an era within WWE and the wrestling industry as a whole. It started back in June of 2002, when a then-unknown (at least to the common fan) John Cena appeared on an episode of Smackdown, answering Kurt Angle’s open challenge. When Angle asked Cena what was the one quality that made him believe he could face Kurt Angle, Cena uttered two words that would not only resonate that night, but for years to come in WWE…
RUTHLESS…AGGRESSION!!!!
Fast forward 23 years later (along with 17 World Title reigns, amongst the US Title and Tag Team Title wins), and we have gotten “The Time is Now” tournament, a battle between NXT and WWE superstars to decide the final opponent for the retiring Cena tonight on Saturday Night’s Main Event. At the conclusion of the tournament, former Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion “The Ring General” Gunther stood tall, and so he faces Cena tonight in what is being promoted as the final match in the WWE career of the “Never Seen 17” megastar.
Say what you want about how the WWE has handled the final year of Cena’s in-ring career, what with the heel turn that fans were BEGGING for as far back as the early 2010’s only to botch is so terribly that Cena turned face after losing his title back to the man that he defeated in the first place at WrestleMania 41, Cody Rhodes. And say what you want about the sudden accusations against Cena from David Otunga (I will not get into that here, if you want to look up what David said, it isn’t hard to find). But when it came to a guy who left us with countless career highlights and promos to remember him by, Cena deserves the spotlight one final time. I mean, hell, Cena would have deserved it alone just for all of the Make-A-Wish requests he has granted.
Some people will insist that, over the years, Cena took the mystical “Golden Shovel” that Triple H was once accused of using to bury young and upcoming talent, but let’s be real here, I don’t think a shovel of any kind is going to help him defeat Gunther tonight. And while the simple notion would have been to have Cena go up against one of his greatest rivals in his final hurrah (such as CM Punk, Randy Orton, or even The Miz), Gunther winning the LTIN tournament and facing Cena presents us with a fresh match-up for Cena to go out on. Also, just imagine if Gunther manages to retire both Goldberg AND Cena within one year’s time. Move over, Randy, we have a NEW Legend Killer in our midst!
But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that other matches will be featured on tonight’s card, because there will be three of them, apparently all handpicked by the G.O.A.T. himself. First up, we will have a pair of singles matches, as WWE’s Bayley will face NXT’s Sol Ruca, while the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will face the recently victorious and now 2-Time NXT Champion in Oba Femi.
Finally, we will have a tag team match, as the recently crowned WWE Tag Team Champions in AJ Styles and Dragon Lee will face off against NXT’s Je’Von Evans and the TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater. I do have to admit that, while the onus is on featuring WWE and NXT superstars, getting a TNA talent on the show is also a cool bonus even if, admittedly, he spends as much time on the NXT brand as he does the TNA brand these days.
So, with ALL of that out of the way, let’s enjoy what should be a really good undercard, leading into what one supposes should be, truly, the last time being now.
Image Credit: WWE.com and 411mania.com. Taking it back to where it all started!
Saturday Night’s Main Event (and by extension, The Last Time is Now) emanates from Capital One Arena in the Nation’s Capital of Washington, DC! Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are on the call tonight!
A thousand apologies, as I had to switch to Peacock on my TV and not on the computer, as it would not load up. As I finally get to the show, we see Cody Rhodes kissing the mat in the middle of the ring. That can only mean one thing!
Non-Title Match: Oba Femi vs. Cody Rhodes
Big OBA chants as the bell rings. Early lock-up and, yeah, Cody is not winning that one lol. Rhodes instead grabs a headlock, causing Femi to swing wildly trying to get out of it. Cody with the go-behind into a side headlock. Femi slams Cody to the mat, grabs him by the throat, and hits the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Femi stalks Rhodes to the corner and hits some body shots and elbows to the back of the head of Rhodes.
Femi with a hard whip and a big lariat. Rhodes tries to fight back, but Femi grinds him down to the mat and he hits a big Beal. Femi charges in, Rhodes with the leapfrog. Rhodes tries a scoop slam, but he can’t pick up Femi, so Oba hits him with one and covers for a two.
Both men to their feet, Femi with a forearm. Rhodes tries to strike Femi, but Oba eats it for dinner. Femi picks up Rhodes and hits another backbreaker for a two. Femi with a clubbing lariat from behind to Rhodes. Femi tries a back suplex, but Rhodes avoids it and lands on his feet. Femi charges in, but he hits the post.
Rhodes is feeling it with some chops and the power slam! Rhodes off the second rope with the Cody Cutter! Cover for a two. Rhodes waits for Femi to get up, off the ropes again, but Femi catches him. Rhodes shoves Femi out of the ring, as Rhodes looks to run, but he eats a forearm from Femi.
Back in the ring, Femi charges after Rhodes, but Cody lowers the rope, sending Oba to the floor. Rhodes finally manages to hit the tope to Femi! Cody returns to the ring and looks to attack again, but Femi is back and he hits a spinebuster for a two.
Femi looking for a power move, but Rhodes out the back door and he hits the thrust chop from the mat. Femi doesn’t appreciate that, as he sends Cody out of the ring. Femi rolls out of the ring, he charges Rhodes, who is on the announce table, and hits a running uppercut!
Rhodes is busted open as Femi returns him to the ring. Femi with a chokeslam, but it only gets him a two. The fans are split, as Rhodes escapes Femi and goes to the top rope. He hits a dodgy looking Cody Cutter from the top.
The fans are on their feet, and it’s because Drew McIntyre is here! The match has been thrown out, as McIntyre attacks a down Cody.
WINNER: No Contest
TIME: 9:00
THOUGHTS: I guess that’s how you get out of the dilemma as to who should win this match. I’m guessing this could have taken place on a Raw or Smackdown instead, but here we are!
RATING: **1/2
Post-match, Femi and McIntyre come face-to-face. Femi shoves McIntyre to the mat! Cody with a Cody Cutter to Drew! Chokeslam from the Ruler! Drew rolls out to the floor in agony! The fans boo, knowing that this match ended in a NC. Rhodes does grab both his and Femi’s titles, he hands Oba his title and raises his hand, making the fans happier.
Cole and Barrett let us know that Sol Ruca and Bayley are up next. Before we get there, though, we get Thank You Cena segments from Good Morning America, Peyton and Eli Manning, Tyrese Haliburton, Jordana Brewster, and Jimmy Fallon.
Advert for January, when WWE is going there for Smackdown and SNME back-to-back!
COMMERCIALS!
More Thank You Cena segments as we return, this time from current and past WWE wrestlers, including Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, Jimmy and Jey Uso, Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, and the Joker to Cena’s Batman, CM Punk.
Cole discusses the GOAT status of Cena set to Animotion’s Obsession in the background. Did you know this will be Cena’s 726th television match and it’s been 8,570 days since he debuted?
We see Tyrese Haliburton, Jon Bernthal, and Chuck Zito at ringside!
Role Model time!
Bayley W/Lyra Valkyria vs. Sol Ruca W/Zaria
The bell rings as both ladies lock-up. Bayley with a side-headlock. Ruca goes behind, but Bayley reverses and takes Bayley to the mat. Arm wrench by Bayley, as Ruca cartwheels out of the hold. Bayley grabs Ruca again, Ruca out of it as she walks to mid-ring on her hands, and it backs Bayley up a bit.
Ruca goes behind this time, however, Bayley quickly regains control. Ruca, however, hits the X-Factor, as Bayley rolls out of the ring. Ruca tries to get back into the ring, but Bayley snaps Ruca’s face off the top rope. On the floor, Bayley is kept off balance by the acrobatics of Ruca, who kicks Bayley to the floor. Ruca off the corner, but Bayley avoids and takes out Ruca.
Bayley returns Ruca to the ring, but Sol rolls her up for a two. Ruca does another handstand to avoid Bayley and sends her out of the ring. Ruca takes off, does a back flip, clears the top rope, and wipes out Bayley. Sol Ruca, have yourself a show, girl!
Back in the ring, the springboard splash from Ruca finds the mat, as Bayley hits a lariat to Ruca. Corner suplex by Bayley, cover for a two. Bayley sinks in the most brutal of chin locks, forcing Ruca to roll Bayley through. Bayley, however, responds with a running knee to the head. Her foll-up charge misses, as Ruca with an elbow and a chop.
Ruca with a clothesline, and she hits a release German from the corner. Ruca to the top, Bayley charges in but eats the feet. Ruca across the top rope with a cartwheel into a DDT for a two. Ruca springboard is caught by the Belly to Bayley! The cover, Ruca kicks out at 2.5!
Both ladies to their feet, Bayley with chops, as she sits Ruca on the top rope. She’s trapped in the tree of WHOA, as Bayley hits an elbow drop. The cover gets Bayley a two. Ruca responds with a backslide for a two. She keeps hold of Bayley, Bayley looking Rose Plant, but Ruca cartwheels out. She hits a Shinning Wizard to Bayley for a two. Ruca to the corner, but Bayley says no and throws her down lol. Rose Plant for real this time, but Ruca gets her foot on the bottom rope.
Bayley takes out some aggression on Ruca with forearms. Bayley to the top, but her elbow drop meets the knees of Ruca! Ruca off the ropes, SOL SNATCHER! Bayley manages to get out of bounds for a minute. Bayley rolls up Ruca for a two, Ruca reverses the roll-up, and she gets the three!
WINNER: Sol Ruca
TIME: 9:25
THOUGHTS: Ruca sure had herself a showcase, with anyone who wasn’t aware of Ruca and her amazing athleticism being made aware of it now. Bayley did her usual good in-ring work and proved a good foil for the young star.
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, Bayley, Lyra, Sol, and Zaria all raise hands in the ring and pose together.
More Thank You Cena segments. We have Sheamus, Rob Van Dam, Corey Graves, Becky Lynch, Michael Hayes, Tom Stewart, Michael Cole, and Cody Rhodes!
Next-up, a potential BANGER/BRISCOE of a tag team match!
COMMERCIALS!
Thank you, Cena segments, from The Undertaker and The Rock!
Michelle McCool, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle, Eve Torres, Trish Stratus, Rob Van Dam, and Sami Zayn with his son are at ringside!
Cole wants to take a moment to thank the people who have sat next to him and called Cena’s moments with him. He wants to thank Wade Barrett, Taz, JBL, Jim Ross, and Jerry the King Lawler.
We cut to Joe Tessitore and Stephanie McMahon, as they discuss the matches that we have seen tonight. Stephanie says they are all waiting for John Cena’s final match. That is why they are here. She says we CAN see him for the last time tonight!
WWE Tag Team Title Match: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans
Evans and Slater launch an ambush at the bell! Evans takes out Styles on the floor, as Slater kicks Lee, sending him to the floor. Slater clears the top turnbuckle and whips out Lee. He sends Lee back into the ring, tags in Evans, who hits a big Frog Splash for a two.
Things slow down a little bit, as Evans sends Slater into Lee with a forearm smash. Snapmare by Slater, cover, Lee out two. Lee elbows Evans, kicks Slater, Leon rams into the ring post. Lee tries to get the tag, but Slater looks to cut him off. Lee goes around the world and hits a powerbomb to Slater!
Styles gets the tag, as does Evans. Styles with the shots and the spinning back first! Basement lariat from Styles. AJ with a corner lariat and a back breaker. Evans launches Styles out to the apron, and Evans kicks out his legs. Evans to the outside, Styles goes to through him back in, but he lands on the middle rope, but Styles slams him into the barricade. Lee flips Slater into Styles, but Slater sends Styles into the apron, and Evans and Slater take care of Lee.
Back in the ring, Slater with the Swanton 450! The cover, Lee saves Styles! Lee takes off and wipes out Evans on the floor with a tope! Slater thinking Styles Clash, but Styles reverses and looks for the deal. Slater fights him off, but AJ with a forearm.
He goes to the apron, looking for the Flying Forearm, but Styles slips and Slater pins him for a two. Slater to the top rope, but he jumps into the waiting arms of Styles, who hits the Styles Clash proper for the win!
WINNER: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (Still Champions)
TIME: 6:25
THOUGHTS: Why this match did not get more time is beyond me, because it needed it to be even better than it was. For what we got, however, it was amazing. Slater and Evans got to show their star potential, but the champions retained in the end.
RATING: ***3/4
Post-match, respect is shown between all four guys, as they embrace one another.
We see posts from sports teams on X and the jerseys that Cena has worn over the years. Cole takes a shot about Cena regretting that he wore a Jets jersey, and I can’t say Cole is wrong lol.
Thank you, Cena segments. This time we have R-Truth, The Miz, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Alexa Bliss, Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Xaiver Woods, and Citizen Kane!
COMMERCIALS!
More Thank You, Cena segments. This time, we have Tom Brady, Jimmy Kimmel, Gabriel Iglesias, Jalen Brunson, Lil Yachty, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jelly Roll!
Metro Boomin and Edward Byers are at ringside!
To the stage we go to Joe and Stephanie! Stephanie says she has fans telling her to not let Cena go, and she wishes that she could. Joe says that Gunther is a big and imposing force that says he will make Cena tap out. Stephanie says that this match is going to be…
AWEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSOMMMMMMEEEEE!
The Miz is in the ring with a mic. He wishes that this tournament didn’t forget about him. You have these up-and-coming talent here, but the man who beat John Cena in a WrestleMania main event is standing right here. He is even wearing the same ring gear. He demands respect!
R-Truth is here! He said he did something disrespectful with Nick Aldis’ balls. LMAO! The Miz takes the ball and the piece of paper. He looks at and he says the magic words…JOE HENDRY!
Say his name and he appears, as Hendry is on the apron! Miz tells the fans to shut up and stop clapping. He goes to strike Hendry, but he eats a forearm from Hendry and R-Truth! Hendry and R-Truth do the Cena pose together, and they hit the five-knuckle shuffle, meaning the Miz ate ten knuckles lol. Hendry with the Standing Ovation on the Miz, Hendry with the pin, and R-Truth counts the win! R-Truth and Hendry hit one cheesier pose!
ANYWAY, Joe says, that is what the Miz gets for interrupting us. Both Joe and Stephanie say there is only one thing left to do, and they say THANK YOU, CENA!
That takes us into a Cena video package. Everyone in the company, from superstar to announcer, to backstage personal all have either a Cena towel, a sign that says HUSTLE, LOYALTY, RESPECT, WE CAN SEE YOU, or they do the Cena pose. Drew initially didn’t want bothered, but begrudgingly does the YOU CAN’T SEE ME WAVE LOL. I can’t do the video justice; I am sure you can find it on social media, and you will enjoy it, without a doubt.
Main Event Time, as the Last Time is indeed Now.
Wow, the fans booed Gunther’s theme song so hard, you thought it committed capital murder lol.
I really wish that they had the decimal meter for when Cena’s theme song hit. You think Arrowhead sounded loud? It had NOTHING on that pop for Cena.
Cena leaves the hugs it out with Sami, Michelle, Eve, RVD, Henry (complete with sunglasses now), along with Elijah/Elias, Booker T, Kevin Owens, and Haku! Very cool!
I love Lillian Garcia doing the match introductions with the old school drop microphone. That’s a nice touch.
The Last Time Is Now/John Cena’s Final Match: John Cena Vs. Gunther
Well, after all the pomp and circumstance, the bell FINALLY rings. Early lock-up, clean break. Gunther goes to the apron to a chorus of boos as he talks to the refs. ASSHOLE chants, as the censor is NOT hard at work lol. Gunther with an uppercut, FUCK YOU GUNTHER chants, and the censor is very much alive lol. Gunther stalks Cena to the opposite corner and chops away on Cena.
Gunther allows Cena to get to his feet before flooring him with another chop. YOU TAPPED OUT chants. Gunther seems confused by this, as he hits a scoop slam to Cena. Hard Irish Whip by Gunther to Cena as the fans now chant LET’S GO CENA!
Cena cuts off another Gunther chop. He ducks the clothesline, shoulder tackle! A second shoulder tackle! The Cena side suplex! For perhaps one last time, YOU CAN’T SEE ME! Cena with the Five Knuckle Shuffle that clearly missed Gunther’s face lol. AA is avoided by Gunther, as he hits lariats to Cena. Gunther with a sleeper hold, but Cena fights his way out and applies the STF! Gunther crawls to the bottom rope, Cena tries to resituate Gunther, but he is kicked away. Big boot from Gunther and a powerbomb follows!
Gunther takes a seat on the second turnbuckle as Cena is on the mat. FUCK YOU GUNTHER chants again that are partly censored, as he hits another lariat. Gunther waits for Cena to get up and hits another lariat, as he commands the ref to count Cena out. Gunther off the ropes with another lariat.
(You know, this reminds me a lot of the time Cena took 15 German Suplexs from Brock Lesnar, except it’s a lariat and not a German Suplex).
Another lariat from Gunther as we get ASSHOLE chants. ANOTHER lariat from Gunther. Cena FINALLY shows some life with the shoulder tackles and another side suplex! Five Knuckle Shuffle making it ten total knuckles now! AA From Cena! The cover, but Cena kicks out at two! Cena motions for one more, as he tries the AA again. Gunther out the back door with a chop to the back of Cena, as Gunther locks in the sleeper.
Cena down to the mat, but he gets back to his feet. He sends off Gunther, and he applies his own sleeper! Gunther is able to get his leg on the rope, as he rolls out and to the floor. Cena to the outside, but he runs into a chop. Gunther with a suplex onto the apron. He launches Cena into the ring steps and returns to the ring. Well, he did, but Gunther rolls out the other side of the ring and takes the ring steps to the announce table. Gunther climbs the steps and poses. ASSHOLE chants from the fans.
Gunther picks up Cena and puts him on the ring steps. He hits some forearms before clearing off the announce table. Gunther looking for a Powerbomb, BUT CENA REVERSES IT AND HITS THE AA ON GUNTHER THROUGH THE TABLE! Cena scoops up Gunther and returns him to the ring. The cover, Gunther kicks out at 2.5. Cena retreats to the apron and goes to the top rope. Leg Drop from the top rope! The cover, Gunther out at two.
YOU STILL GOT IT chants from the crowd as Cena looks around and motions for one more. He says this is the last one, and he means it! YOU CAN’T SEE ME! Cena off the ropes, but Gunther off the mat with a big boot, a lariat, and a powerbomb. Cena kicks out at two. Gunther goes to the top, but Cena meets him up there. CENA WITH AN AVALANCHE AA! THE COVER, BUT GUNTHER KICKS OUT AT 2.9!
(Good lord, I think it will take a literal killing to win this match lol).
Cena and Gunther to their feet. Punches are traded, with appropriate BOO and YAY chants. Cena ducks the lariat, looking for the AA, but Gunther escapes. Gunther with another powerbomb, as he heads to the top again. Splash from Gunther! The cover, Cena kicks out at 2.
SUPER CENA chants now, as Gunther stalks Cena. Sleeper is applied, as Cena slumps to one knee. Cena raises his hand, gets to his feet, and looks to break the hold, but he can’t! Gunther keeps the hold on and takes Cena down to the mat. Cena back to his feet, he tries to counter with the AA, but Gunther keeps the sleeper hold on. Cena down to the mat, Cena back to his feet. Cena fades a bit, but he is back on his feet. He drives Gunther to the corner, but like the Terminator, Gunther is back with the sleeper.
Cena to the seat of his pants, but he makes it back to his feet and rams Gunther into the corner. Gunther out of the corner, but Cena catches him with the AA! The cover, Gunther kicks at two and raises like the Undertaker and puts the sleeper back on! DON’T GIVE UP chants, but Cena may end up giving up, as Gunther puts on a body lock. The ref raises Cena’s arm once, twice, but not thrice, as Cena is alive! Cena to his feet, but Gunther with the hammer elbows. Cena is back down to the mat in the sleeper. Cena, after much fight and determination, finally taps out.
WINNER: Gunther
TIME: 23:45
THOUGHTS: The pomp and circumstance, the sights and the sounds alone made this match a 5-star feel. The match itself wasn’t the greatest match that either man has had in their respective careers, but this was more storytelling and less what happened physically between the ropes. From the storytelling aspect, this match was incredible, as the fans were heavily invested, and you felt that, any time Cena hit the AA or even the top rope leg drop, that he might be going out with a win. But it wasn’t meant to be, and Gunther has now retired both Cena and Goldberg within a calendar year. After 23 years, all we have left to say is THANK YOU CENA!
RATING: *****
Post-match, Gunther takes his leave up the ramp. The fans chant BULLSHIT, as Cena takes in the end of his career. We see the locker room empty out, complete with Triple H and Shawn Michaels. The fans are chanting YOU FUCKED UP, but I am not sure at who exactly. Everyone surrounds ringside except for Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, they get into the ring, and they put their respective World Titles on Cena.
Triple H gets on the apron and ah, yes, there are the boos lol. Cena takes both title belts and poses in every corner and in the middle of the ring while Punk and Rhodes take a knee in the corner. The boos only intensify when Triple H hugs Cena lol. Triple H points up to the screen above the ring, and a video plays for Cena. This one is more personal, since it features appearances from John’s mom and dad, which is definitely a nice touch. Again, I would implore everyone to seek this one out on social media, as it was well done, and it should be easy to find.
After the video concludes, Cena takes a bow in the middle of the ring. He takes off his shoes and wrist bands and leaves them in the middle of the ring. The camera follows Cena up the ramp, where Cena takes one more bow, gives us a salute, says thank you, and walks up the ramp and to the back.
And with that we are, truly, when it comes to Cena’s career, done.
