John Cena's Final Match and a Legal Battle Over His Theme Music
John Cena, a legendary figure in professional wrestling, is set to retire from in-ring competition on December 13, 2025, marking the end of an era. His final match will be against the winner of The Last Time Is Now tournament, which culminates on this week's episode of SmackDown. The tournament's finalists, LA Knight and Gunther, emerged victorious in their semifinal matches on WWE Raw, setting the stage for an intense showdown. The winner of this match will have the honor of facing Cena in the main event of Saturday Night's Main Event the following weekend.
However, Cena's retirement week just got a bit more complicated. A recent lawsuit has been filed, naming both Cena and the WWE, regarding the use of his iconic entrance theme music. The song, known as 'My Time Is Now', will play for the last time as Cena steps into the ring for his final match. The legal dispute revolves around the use of an unlicensed sample in the song's horn arrangement, which was written by Pete Schofield.
According to the lawsuit, Schofield's daughter claims that WWE withheld crucial information from her during the settlement negotiations in 2017. The settlement, which included a one-time payment of $50,000, was reached just two days before the premiere of a national Toyota commercial that featured the horn arrangement. The suit seeks to void the settlement, arguing that WWE's actions were deceptive.
Cena has been using the entrance music and the distinctive horns since March 2005, including it in his album released that same year. His retirement tour, which included matches against renowned wrestlers like Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar, showcased his enduring popularity. Cena's turn to the 'heel' character, a controversial move, resulted in a world championship win at WrestleMania 41, further highlighting his versatility in the ring.
As Cena prepares for his final match, the legal battle over his theme music adds an unexpected twist to his retirement celebrations. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for WWE and the use of licensed music in professional wrestling.
