AJ Styles suffers shocking loss to John Cena at WWE Crown Jewel 2025

AJ Styles lost to John Cena on 2 November 2025 at WWE Crown Jewel 2025, ending a hard-fought veterans’ tribute bout with an unplanned RKO.

What happened in the match?

John Cena revealed on WWE Unreal Season 3 that he wasn’t supposed to hit the RKO on AJ Styles. The spot came only after the crowd chanted for it mid-match. Cena also admitted he couldn’t take Styles’ 619, so Styles had to drop him with a clothesline first. The two legends opened with a tribute to several finishers before Cena locked in the pin.

Why the finish wasn’t planned

Cena told WWE Unreal that the RKO was an unscripted moment driven by the live crowd reaction. He said the fans’ demand for Styles’ signature 619 forced Styles to put him down with a clothesline because Cena couldn’t safely take the move. The veteran added the finish felt spontaneous rather than part of the original plan.

What it means for AJ Styles

The loss at Crown Jewel 2025 came after Styles had already been forced into immediate retirement earlier in 2025. The Ring General defeated Styles at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, ending Styles’ in-ring career on the spot. Cena’s unplanned RKO capped a memorable night that paid tribute to multiple finishers while delivering a decisive win.

Cena’s own recent career crossroads

Cena turned heel at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 only to admit the run was “bad and boring.” He said he thought the heat was aimed at WWE rather than his persona. After losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2025, Cena reverted to babyface. His final WWE match ended in defeat to Gunther on 13 December 2025.