John Cena's final WWE match: How to watch the superstar's swansong live, and is it showing anywhere in Leeds?
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The last time is taking place this weekend - here’s what time you’ll need to stay up until to say your goodbyes.
- John Cena’s final WWE match takes place this weekend on the final episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event for 2025.
- The record-setting former World Champion will face Gunther, who is promising to make sure Cena breaks his mantra of “Never Give Up”
- Here’s what time you need to tune in and where to watch the match live in the UK, alongside some other bouts set to take place at the event.
So, after a year since making the announcement he would be stepping away from the WWE ring, the time as finally arrived - John Cena’s retirement match.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for many wrestling fans, be it if you’ve been poking around behind-the-scenes at the trials and tribulations that have been reported about the run - from heel turns people think were unneeded to Cena becoming a WWE ambassador after signing a five-year deal - or if you’ve just strapped in and enjoyed the ride that has seen John Cena become the most successful WWE champion in history, and finally capturing a championship to become a Grand Slam champion in the company.
But this weekend, he takes on his biggest challenge to date - Gunther.
There’s an extra level of antagonism from the former World Heavyweight Champion, too, after his comments on this past week’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Gunther isn’t simply looking to put Cena away and let him ride off into the sunset, but rather he wants to leave an indelible impression on the WWE Universe, and maybe the wrestling world as a whole, as he wants to “break” the spirit of John Cena and make him submit.
Thus proving, once and for all, that John Cena’s mantra of “Never Give Up” is just a catchphrase rather than it is a life affirmation.
Pretty deep when it comes to wrestling, I’m sure even those sceptical of sports-entertainment must attest.
Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, including the other matches scheduled to take place, that all-important UK start time and how to watch, and whether anywhere in Leeds will be showing the event live.
What time is Saturday Night’s Main Event starting in the UK this weekend?
It’s going to be a late one for the UK WWE Universe once again - but of course, worth staying up for; this is John Cena after all.
You can catch Saturday Night’s Main Event for free on the official WWE YouTube channel, which is also set to host a post-show analysis of the event, from 1am GMT on December 14.
There will also be pre-show coverage of the event, set to also stream on the WWE YouTube channel, from 11pm GMT on December 13.
What other matches are taking place on Saturday Night’s Main Event?
There are three other matches scheduled to take place alongside Cena’s retirement match this weekend - and with an episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown still to take place tomorrow (Friday), there could be another match thrown into the card for good measure.
As of writing, though, here is the card for the final Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025
Saturday Night’s Main Event - current matches announced
- John Cena v Gunther
- Champion v Champion: Cody Rhodes v Oba Femi
- World Tag Team Championship: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) v Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater
- Bayley v Sol Ruca
Is anywhere in Leeds going to screen John Cena’s retirement match this weekend?
We’ve taken a look at a couple of sports bars across the city to see if they are showing the event, but as of writing, no venue is currently scheduled to screen John Cena’s final match.
That could change, though, given the interest in the event, so we advise keeping an eye on locations such as BOX, The Brotherhood, Rita’s Beer Hall and Ballroom or Pinnacle Sports and Games in the event of a last-minute decision to air the show.
Other than that, it might be a night to gather your friends around your own TV set on this special occasion.
All Elite Wrestling brings its hard-hitting TV tapings to the UK this winter, with two major shows lined up for British fans. AEW Collision hits Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 13 December, while AEW Dynamite comes to Manchester’s Co-op Live on Wednesday 17 December. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster – prices start at just £31.50.
Both events are part of AEW’s December UK tour, which follows their sold-out Forbidden Door show at London’s O2 Arena. The Cardiff event will be a televised edition of AEW Collision, while the Manchester show will feature a live taping of AEW Dynamite, the company’s flagship programme.