WWE Have Reportedly Been Paid Insane Amount to Host John Cena’s Final Match

John Cena, widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, is in the middle of his retirement tour. The 17-time world champion is set to wrestle his final match this December, but in a surprising twist, the venue won’t be in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, as many fans had expected.

For months, WWE loyalists assumed Cena’s farewell would be staged at Boston’s TD Garden, a fitting tribute to the man who carried the company’s banner for two decades. But according to Sports Illustrated Wrestling’s Jon Alba, Washington, D.C. outbid Boston and secured the honour of hosting Cena’s curtain call.

WWE have now confirmed that Cena’s last match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on the 13th of December, live from Capital One Arena. Boston will still get a send-off of sorts, however, with Cena’s final hometown appearance scheduled for November.

“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,” Alba tweeted. “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.”

Washington Secure John Cena’s Final WWE Match

Washington, D.C. seized the opportunity, reportedly offering over $7 million to secure Cena’s final bout, with more than $1 million directly tied to the match itself as part of a weekend-long WWE “takeover.” Reports also suggest that US President Donald Trump, who has long-standing ties with WWE and the TKO Group, played a role in helping D.C. land the event.

For Cena, born in West Newbury, Massachusetts in 1977, the moment marks the culmination of an iconic career. Making his WWE debut in 2002 against Kurt Angle, he rose to superstardom with his magnetic charisma, larger-than-life presence, and ability to thrive under the spotlight. His accolades speak for themselves: a 17-time world champion (14-time WWE Champion, three-time World Heavyweight Champion), five-time United States Champion, four-time tag team champion, and two-time Royal Rumble winner.

After 22 years at the top, Cena stunned fans at Money in the Bank in July 2024 when he announced his plan to retire in December 2025. His final SmackDown match came on the 5th of September against Sami Zayn for the US title, which ended without a result after a shocking interference from Brock Lesnar.

“Tonight I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” Cena said during the event. “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 here to announce that in Las Vegas WrestleMania 2025 will be the last WrestleMania I will compete in.”

Outside the ring, Cena has built a Hollywood career with standout roles in Trainwreck, F9, The Suicide Squad, and HBO’s Peacemaker. Just as impressive is his philanthropy as he holds the record for granting over 650 Make-A-Wish wishes, more than any celebrity in history.