WWE legend and 17-time World Champion John Cena is scheduled to compete in his final match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on Saturday, December 13, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. For most of this year, it was anticipated that Cena’s farewell match would take place in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, rather than Washington. WWE had initially considered moving the Saturday Night’s Main Event special to December 27, but they were unable to reach an agreement with NBC, which would have pitted them against AEW's Worlds End event.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE chose Washington, D.C., largely for financial reasons. They reportedly requested a $7 million site fee from Boston, comparable to the amount New Jersey paid for two nights of WWE SummerSlam. However, Boston officials believed the site fee was too high and expressed concern that a show just two weeks before Christmas wouldn’t attract the level of tourism necessary to justify the cost. As a result, WWE decided to add an episode of RAW on Monday, November 10, which will effectively serve as Cena’s final show in his hometown.
There has been no information released regarding the site fee that Washington, D.C. ultimately paid. Some speculate that having Cena’s final match in D.C. may create an opportunity for President Trump to attend the event, as he is already scheduled to be at the Army vs. Navy football game on December 13 at 3 PM ET. WWE and UFC have been successful in securing high site fees, often with cities covering the cost of renting venues and other expenses, under the expectation that it will boost tourism.
