TD Garden was a night of cheers and nostalgia Nov. 10, as Boston fans packed the arena to witness 17-time world champion professional wrestler John Cena’s final Monday Night Raw in his hometown, chanting his name and celebrating a career that has meant so much to the city for many decades.
The special event in Boston was part of John Cena’s Farewell Tour which started back in January of this year.
Cena has been signed with World Wrestling Entertainment since 2001, marking his two-decade long career with many accomplishments. During which he has become one of the most recognizable and celebrated figures in professional wrestling history.
He also has a deep connection with the city of Boston. Over the past two decades, John Cena has gone from a scrappy kid from West Newbury, Massachusetts, to one of the greatest wrestling icons of all time. With many world championships, headlining pay-per-views, unforgettable rivalries, and his signature ‘Never Give Up’ message, Cena has captured the hearts of fans worldwide.
Long life wrestling fan Kevin Iacoviello has been a huge fan of Cena’s since his debut in WWE in 2003.
“John Cena has influenced me as to never give up on anything that can be accomplished and achieved in all goals and life, because we can succeed even if we fail which is part of life,” he said.
Being born and raised in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena has always maintained a strong connection to his hometown, often returning to Boston to perform for the city that helped shape him
Fans outside the arena had been waiting for hours to get into the arena to get to the merch stand to see the new Cena gear and to get the signed limited edition autograph poster that Cena signed before doors opened. Many waited in line wearing their brand new Celtics green Cena Farewell shirts carrying real championship belts that he has held in the past and homemade signs to celebrate the hometown hero.
Monday night delivered everything fans could hope for: high-energy matches, dramatic moments, and the signature WWE spectacle of lights, music, and pyrotechnics. Cena’s entrance kicked off the show first, being introduced as the greatest of all time by WWE Chief Content Officer and former professional wrestler Paul Levesque, formerly known as Triple H .
There were deafening cheers and screams bouncing off the walls as fans of all ages erupted as Cena entered the ring running down the long entrance way with his Celtics bright green themed gear saying “The Last Time is Now.” The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and emotion.
The night’s excitement came when Cena took the microphone for his farewell address. With the crowd hanging on every word, he thanked his fans and the city of Boston for their unwavering support for all the years.
“It’s going to be good,” Cena said.
Chants of his name filled the arena, signs waved high, and the mix of joy and nostalgia was palpable.
For a moment, the roar of the crowd drowned out until the music of Intercontinental champion Dominik Mysterio hit. He came out and interrupted Cena’s segment, sparking a tense confrontation in front of the Boston crowd where you could not even hear him speak as fans kept shouting “boo” every time he said a word.
Mysterio came out and started putting Cena down as if he was just like a new superstar entering professional wrestling. This only helped fuel Cenas’s energy as he gave Mysterio the option to leave the ring and Boston but he chose not to.
After that was said to by Mysterio, the “boo’s” got even louder until Paul Levesque interrupted in the ring and said “why don’t we have a challenge right here in Boston for the Intercontinental Championship.”
As Levesque announced that the crowd got even louder with them chanting “Let’s go Cena.”
Cena went on to face Mysterio in a hard-fought match for the Intercontinental Championship to kick off the show.
With a series of signature moves and punches, the match ended with a famous thunderous finisher called the “Attitude Adjustment.” Cena secured the victory, earning the Intercontinental title for the first time ever and officially becoming a Grand Slam Champion. A milestone that added even more excitement to his farewell night.
“It felt absolutely stunning, and pure amazing filled with happiness to witness Cena make history, and not just back home in Boston but in WWE and breaking a big time record,” said Iacoviello.
The arena itself reflected the celebratory mood, including Cena grabbing a live microphone and going on the top rope turnbuckle celebrating while holding the title,saying his famous catchphrase “The champ is here.”
Pyro lit up the ceiling after he said that and LED screens flashed with Cena’s iconic titatron entrance video, and chants from the crowd saying “You deserve it.” From the first bell to the final farewell, Boston fans made it clear that Cena’s connection to the city is as strong as ever.
Longtime supporters expressed that being able to see Cena one last time in Boston, especially while achieving such a historic milestone in his career, was a memory they will treasure forever.
“I was crying tears of joy and witnessed history that I will never forget,” said long life wrestling fan Bryan Chavez.
Though Cena is stepping away from regular WWE appearances, his influence will continue to resonate from blockbuster films to his charity work with Make-A-Wish, granting hundreds of wishes for children around the world. Yet on this night, Boston had his full attention, and the city returned the love in full force.
Yet no matter how far his career has taken him, from Hollywood movies, TV shows, and global stardom, Boston has always held a special place in his story, making every return to TD Garden feel like a hometown hero coming home story.
As the night continued, with Boston fans celebrating. There were many more exciting action packed matches but the main focus was on the Last Time is Now tournament where the winner of the tournament will be facing John Cena for his last match ever in December.
The two first round matches kicked off in Boston for the tournament. The matches were between Sheamus and Shinsuke Nakamura where Sheamus took the victory in less than 10 minutes. The other was the battle between giants Rusev and Damian Priest. The winner ended up being Rusev by pinfall. As of now Sheamus and Rusev continue into the second round when it is announced.
With the lights dimming and the crowd still roaring, it was clear: Boston had said goodbye to a legend, and the legacy of John Cena will forever echo through the city he calls home. Cena’s farewell may have lit up Boston one last time, but the ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament, culminating December 13 in Washington, D.C., ensures his legacy will continue on as the winner faces him in his emotional last in ring appearance for one last time.
