In one of the most emotional matches of his legendary career, John Cena defeated long-time rival AJ Styles at WWE Crown Jewel on Saturday, marking what could be one of his final in-ring performances before retirement.

The bout was a masterclass in nostalgia and respect, as both superstars traded signature moves and paid homage to other WWE legends throughout.

Cena unleashed a creative arsenal, delivering a Tombstone Piledriver, Randy Orton’s DDT and RKO, the Walls of Jericho, Skull-Crushing Finale, and even Sister Abigail before sealing the win with a decisive Attitude Adjustment.

Not to be outdone, Styles fired back with a flawless Sweet Chin Music, honouring Shawn Michaels and nearly claiming victory.

Cena’s win comes just weeks after a crushing defeat to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, which left fans disappointed. Perhaps motivated by that response, Cena sought redemption and gave the WWE Universe a classic showdown they demanded.

After teasing the idea on X with the post “#CenaVsStyles. Thoughts?”, fans overwhelmingly called for one last clash—and both Styles and Triple H made it happen.

Their storied rivalry dates back to 2016 when AJ Styles joined WWE after dominating in TNA, ROH, and NJPW. Their earlier trilogy produced instant classics — with Styles winning at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam, and Cena capturing the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2017 to tie Ric Flair’s record of 16 world titles.

Now, nearly a decade later, both icons proved they still have plenty of fire left. Crown Jewel may have marked their final encounter, but it reminded the world why Cena and Styles are among the greatest performers of their generation.

With Cena’s retirement looming at the end of 2025, his victory at Crown Jewel was more than just a win — it was a farewell statement from a legend cementing his legacy one last time.