In what could be one of the last matches of his legendary WWE career, John Cena defeated AJ Styles at WWE Crown Jewel 2025 on Saturday — and he did it in a bout that was equal parts nostalgia, chaos, and showmanship.
The clash between Cena and Styles was a celebration of eras, icons, and the art of storytelling inside the ring.
From the opening bell, the two veterans traded finishers, countered signatures, and even borrowed from the movesets of other WWE greats.
Cena hit The Miz’s Skull Crushing Finale, followed by Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail, igniting the crowd into a firefly tribute that lit up the entire arena.
The match quickly turned into a highlight reel of wrestling history. Cena executed a draping DDT, then an RKO, sending fans into a frenzy.
.@JohnCena just won’t stop 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/xhNEIX97li
— WWE (@WWE) October 11, 2025
JOHN CENA JUST HIT THE RKO ON AJ STYLES 🤯
Stream #WWECrownJewel LIVE on the ESPN App ➡️ https://t.co/qGHI6OstAD pic.twitter.com/I7wwsRXFxx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2025
On commentary, Wade Barrett perfectly captured the spirit of the moment, calling it “like creating a character in a video game and just spamming everyone’s finisher for fun.”
Not to be outdone, Styles fired back with a series of tributes of his own. He attempted a Sweet Chin Music, paying homage to Shawn Michaels, and nearly scored the victory. Cena, in classic fashion, kicked out at two — refusing to let the story end there.
SWEET CHIN MUSIC! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/h5EyVuVY1T
— WWE (@WWE) October 11, 2025
As the pace quickened, Cena landed an unexpected Tombstone Piledriver — a nod to The Undertaker — before hoisting Styles for one last Attitude Adjustment. This time, the referee’s hand hit the mat for three.
This match is INSANE!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CROVxQSXyg
— WWE (@WWE) October 11, 2025
Cena, visibly emotional, soaked in the cheers from a crowd that knew they might be witnessing one of his final WWE victories.
If this truly was one of Cena’s final matches, it was a perfect sendoff — not with anger or aggression, but with appreciation and legacy written across every moment.
Because for John Cena, the time may be up, but the respect will never fade.
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