WWE fans were taken aback when it was revealed that John Cena’s farewell match would not be staged in Boston, the city most had expected. Now, more details have surfaced explaining why the decision was made.

According to Jon Alba, WWE and TKO wanted to create a full destination-style weekend built around Cena’s last match, rather than simply holding the bout in his hometown. The idea was to expand the occasion beyond just Saturday Night’s Main Event, with additional attractions such as an Undertaker one-man show planned to make the weekend feel like a larger tourism draw.

Bidding documents show that WWE had outlined this strategy earlier in the year, allowing cities to submit proposals. Boston officials were eager to secure Cena’s final match but ultimately lost out. Reports suggest that city representatives were frustrated by how WWE communicated during the process, particularly when comparing the company’s demands to previous events hosted in Boston.

Timing also factored heavily into the decision. WWE and TKO did not view December in Boston, during the peak holiday season, as the ideal setting for a major tourism-focused event.

It has already been confirmed that John Cena’s final match will take place on December 13 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as part of Saturday Night’s Main Event. While fans in Boston may be disappointed, WWE’s choice reflects its ongoing push to transform key shows into major destination events. Cena’s farewell in Washington, D.C. is positioned to be a historic moment as one of wrestling’s most celebrated stars competes for the last time.

WWE has been trying to push John Cena’s last match as a destination weekend, with other events set around the Saturday Night’s Main Event taping.

This would, according to bidding documents from earlier this year, include a events like an Undertaker One-Man show. https://t.co/dMA2uZZ84R

, Jon Alba (@JonAlba) September 5, 2025

Boston wanted his last match badly, and I know firsthand officials made a very strong push for it.

WWE and TKO want Cena’s last match to be a major tourism destination event. Doing that in December in Boston around the holidays isn’t easy. https://t.co/g4D0oSzoXZ

, Jon Alba (@JonAlba) September 5, 2025

The NBA Cup was in play, but WWE has had this as a bidding process from the very beginning. They sent out documents to cities earlier this year, and wanted to block out entire weekends for Cena festivities.

Boston went hard for it. It didn't come to pass. https://t.co/lHQZylzKwd

, Jon Alba (@JonAlba) September 5, 2025

Boston officials were very upset with how WWE communicated the bidding process with them, and some of the demands, in comparison to past events in Boston. https://t.co/K3obxp8TlG

, Jon Alba (@JonAlba) September 5, 2025