The final curtain call for one of wrestling's most enduring icons
In short: John Cena’s appearance at Backlash 2025 was more than just a championship defense; it marked the twilight of an era. As he stepped into the ring in St. Louis, he wasn't just facing Randy Orton—he was preparing for his final walk as an in-ring performer.
Backlash 2025 served as the 20th installment of WWE's premium live event, themed specifically around the fallout of WrestleMania 41. On May 10, 2025, Missouri's St. Louis hosted this show at the Enterprise Center. This marked the concluding Backlash for Philippine viewers on Disney+ and the final one for American Peacock audiences. It was a landmark moment for the promotion’s distribution landscape, marking the first Backlash to livestream on Netflix in most international markets following the WWE Network's merger with the service in January 2025.
The main event featured John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton in a match billed as 'One Last Time.' This was significant because it served as Cena’s first Backlash appearance since 2009 and his final one before retiring from professional wrestling at the end of 2025. The rivalry was fueled by a narrative where Cena, having turned into a villainous character earlier in the year, challenged Orton to defend the title in Orton's hometown.
Beyond the main event, the card featured high-stakes matches including Gunther defeating Pat McAfee via technical submission and Lyra Valkyria successfully defending her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch. The night also saw Jacob Fatu retain the United States Championship in a fatal four-way match involving LA Knight, Damian Priest, and Drew McIntyre, featuring the WWE debut of Jeff Cobb (who performed under the new name JC Mateo).
The event also signaled major shifts in broadcasting rights. Starting September 2025, ESPN's direct-to-consumer platform took over streaming rights for primary roster premium live events.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Backlash (2025)
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