In a truly historic and emotional night for professional wrestling, WWE legend John Cena has finally captured the one title that had eluded him throughout his storied 23-year career. The iconic superstar won the Intercontinental Championship on the November 10th episode of Monday Night Raw, sending fans into a frenzy and cementing his legacy as a Grand Slam Champion just weeks before his scheduled retirement.
A Boston Triumph and a Career Goal Achieved
The special episode of Raw, broadcast on Netflix, kicked off in Cena's hometown of Boston where he was introduced by WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. The celebratory mood was quickly interrupted by the reigning Intercontinental Champion, Dominik Mysterio, who proceeded to taunt the veteran superstar.
This confrontation led to an impromptu title match being made right then and there. In a highly entertaining bout that allowed both the 48-year-old Cena and the 28-year-old Mysterio to showcase their skills, the crowd was electric. The match reached its climax when Cena hit his signature Attitude Adjustment on 'Dirty Dom' to secure the pinfall victory and claim the championship for the very first time.
This victory means that John Cena is now officially a Grand Slam Champion. He completed this monumental achievement a staggering two decades after first winning the WWE Championship, which itself came 13 months after he captured his first piece of WWE gold, the United States Title.
Fans React to an Unforgettable Raw
The emotional weight of the moment was not lost on the WWE Universe, both in the arena and watching worldwide. Social media exploded with reactions from fans who were moved to tears by Cena's long-awaited triumph.
One fan, @SaikyoGroove, captured the sentiment of many, writing: 'I'm crying right now man. I feel like a little kid again, seeing my childhood hero winning gold.' Another, @MellowareBlak35, added: 'I'm in tears. This is a checkmark in his terrific career.'
Beyond the title change, the episode as a whole received widespread critical acclaim from viewers. @dmolesevich declared it 'Probably the best Raw so far this year', a sentiment that was echoed across the platform, with many hailing the three-hour show as one of the most eventful and emotionally charged of 2025.
Setting the Stage for a Grand Finale
Cena's Intercontinental Title win adds a huge new layer to the final chapter of his in-ring career. His retirement match is scheduled for Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13th, where he will defend the championship.
His opponent will be the winner of 'The Last Time Is Now' tournament, which also saw its first-round matches take place on this episode of Raw. Rusev and Sheamus advanced, defeating Damian Priest and Shinsuke Nakamura respectively. The tournament continues next week with matches including Je'Von Evans vs. GUNTHER.
During his promo, Cena also announced a major twist for his retirement event. While he will headline the show against the tournament winner, the undercard will feature a series of exhibition matches pitting established main roster stars from Raw and SmackDown against the next generation of talent from WWE's developmental brand, NXT.
In other action on a packed Raw episode, the stage was set for the upcoming WarGames event. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky returned to save Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair from an attack. On the men's side, Cody Rhodes aided Jey Uso and CM Punk. Additionally, Nikki Bella turned villain by attacking Stephanie Vaquer, positioning herself for a future Women's World Title opportunity.
