This is how it had to end for John Cena.

As painful as it was for many WWE fans, you could see that the ending brought Cena closure.

The 17-time world champion was back in Gunther’s devastating sleeper hold for the seventh time in the final match of his 23-year WWE career during “Saturday Night’s Main Event” at Capital One Arena on Saturday night.

Right before Cena tapped out for the first time since 2004, a calming smile came over his face. It was over. He knew it.