WWE to announce venue of John Cena's retirement match this weekend: Report

John Cena announced his retirement tour at the Money in the Bank event last year, confirming that 2025 would be his final year in the ring. His farewell tour has been a celebration of his career, featuring high-profile matches against the likes of Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, CM Punk, and Logan Paul. The 43-year-old, born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, has been a cornerstone of WWE since his debut in 2002, amassing a record-breaking 17 world championships to go ahead of legendary Ric Flair.

In a surprising turn of events, WWE is reportedly set to announce that the final match of John Cena’s illustrious career will take place in Washington, D.C., rather than his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. A report from WrestleVotes Radio claims that the announcement,

expected as early as this weekend, marks a significant departure from long-standing expectations that the 17-time World Champion would conclude his two-decade-long WWE tenure in front of his home crowd at Boston’s TD Garden. While details about the opponent and specifics of the match remain undisclosed, the shift to the nation’s capital has sparked intense speculation among fans and wrestling insiders about the reasons behind the decision and what it means for Cena’s farewell tour, which is set to culminate on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Boston officials balked at the price WWE reportedly requested, a $7 million site fee

According to the reports, the change was driven by financial considerations. WWE reportedly requested a $7 million site fee from Boston to host the event, comparable to what New Jersey paid for the two-night SummerSlam in August 2025. Boston officials reportedly balked at the price, citing the event’s proximity to Christmas, December 13, 2025 as a deterrent to generating sufficient tourism revenue to justify the cost. Washington, D.C., emerged as the winning bidder, with the Capital One Arena set to host Saturday Night’s Main Event, which will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock.

The shift has fueled speculation about additional factors influencing the decision. Some reports suggest that hosting the event in D.C. could reportedly open the door for a high-profile appearance by the U.S. President Donald Trump who is himself a WWE Hall of Famer, though his attendance is uncertain due to a scheduling conflict with the Army vs. Navy football game in Baltimore on the same day. On November 10, 2025, Cena will make his last Boston appearance on Monday Night Raw at TD Garden, followed by his final Madison Square Garden show on November 17. These venues hold significant history for Cena, who won two world championships in Boston and the 2008 Royal Rumble at MSG.