The final chapter of John Cena’s legendary 26-year career didn’t just tug at the heartstrings of the WWE Universe; it rewrote the financial record books. On December 13, 2025, the Saturday Night’s Main Event special at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., officially became the highest-grossing arena event in WWE history.
According to a new report from POST Wrestling, utilising Pollstar data, the event generated a staggering live gate of $6,553,883. This figure comfortably surpassed the previous record established earlier in the same year during the high-profile premiere of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, which drew roughly $4.89 million at the Intuit Dome.
Breaking Down the Unprecedented Numbers
The massive gate was driven by a capacity crowd of 17,121 fans, with average ticket prices soaring to $383—a figure that typically rivals only the most premium seats at major stadium shows like WrestleMania. Even when adjusting for inflation to account for the legendary gates of the 1980s, Cena’s farewell stands alone as the undisputed king of arena-scale revenue. Until this night, the inflation-adjusted record for an arena show was held by WrestleMania V (1989), which would be worth approximately $4.2 million today.
The night’s success was anchored by the sheer gravity of the main event. John Cena faced off against Gunther in his final professional match, a gruelling 23-minute battle that ended in a shocking submission loss for “The Greatest of All Time”. It was the first time Cena had tapped out in nearly 22 years, leaving the D.C. crowd in a state of stunned silence before a standing ovation followed the final bell.
A Legacy Beyond the Box Office
While the financial metrics are historic, Cena’s final night was also a masterclass in giving back to the industry. Per his personal request, the undercard was designed to spotlight the future of the company:
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Sol Ruca secured a career-defining victory over veteran Bayley.
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Oba Femi (NXT Champion) wrestled Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion) in a high-stakes “Champion vs. Champion” exhibition that ended in a DQ due to Drew McIntyre’s interference.
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AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defeated the rising duo of Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater.
As Cena left his signature boots in the center of the ring, he did so having anchored a retirement tour that reportedly grossed over $80 million across 20 tracked dates in 2025. The record-shattering success of Saturday Night’s Main Event serves as a final testament to Cena’s unparalleled drawing power, proving that even in his final hour, “The Champ” was still the biggest prize in sports entertainment.
