Liv Morgan made her shocking return at WWE Survivor Series. (Credit: Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
WWE Survivor Series 2025 marked the final PLE appearance for the legendary John Cena in a highly anticipated rematch with Dominik Mysterio.
The first-ever clash between Mysterio and Cena, a 17-time world champion, was originally scheduled for Survivor Series. But a change in creative plans moved up that bout to the Nov. 3 edition of Monday Night Raw, where Cena defeated Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship and become a Grand Slam Champion.
But two weeks alter on Raw, Mysterio enacted his rematch clause and challenged Cena to a rematch at WWE Survivor Series 2025 in Mysterio’s hometown of San Diego, and inside PetCo Park, that’s exactly what he got.
WWE Survivor Series 2025 Results for John Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio
Dominik Mysterio needed all the help he could get at WWE Survivor Series, and boy, did he.
At WWE Survivor Series 2025 in front of a raucous San Diego crowd, the heat magnet Mysterio looked like he had Cena on the ropes several times, but the entire Judgment Day faction interfered on his behalf to help him beat Cena and win back his Intercontinental Championship.
Raquel Rodriguez, Roxanne Perez, JD McDonagh and Finn Balor couldn’t help Mysterio beat Cena, but a shock return from Liv Morgan got the job done, allowing Mysterio to capitalize and win back the title just a few weeks after losing it.
Here are the key highlights and moments from Cena’s unsuccessful Survivor Series title defense against Mysterio:
- Early on, Roxanne Perez tripped up Cena as the referee was preoccupied with Mysterio. Moments later, Raquel Rodriguez punched Cena behind the referee’s back, suggesting outside interference will be the theme of this match.
- Mysterio hit Cena with the Three Amigos suplexes, but Cena rebounded and went for a punch only for Mysterio to roll out of the ring. As Cena was confronted by Rodriguez, Mysterio took advantage and attacked Cena from behind.
- Mysterio attempted a hurricanrana on Cena on the outside, but it looked like there was a miscommunication as Cena attempted to reverse it into a powerbomb only for Mysterio go crashing shoulder first into the mat. The referee called for the medic, and while the ref was distracted, Rodriguez hit Cena with a Tejana Bomb followed up by a Pop Rox from Perez.
- Mysterio magically appeared to be OK and hit a 619 then a top rope splash. He went for the pin, but the referee could tell that Mysterio was trying to pull one over on him. The ref kicked Perez and Rodriguez out and sent them to the back much to the delight of the crowd but certainly to Mysterio’s dismay.
- The distraction allowed Cena to hit his patented shoulder tackle and Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena went for the AA, but Mysterio wiggled out. Cena eventually locked Mysterio in the STF, but Mysterio reached the rope for the rope break. Mysterio unzipped his boot and Cena accidentally ripped it off, allowing Mysterio to hit the 619 and top rope frog splash again. Cena miraculously kicked out at two.
- Cena was able to blast Mysterio with an AA, but Mysterio surprisingly kicked out. The two stars exchanged blows to dueling crowd chants, Cena went for the shoulder tackle, Mysterio moved and Cena accidentally hit the ref. Cena locked in the STF, but the ref was down. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh ran down to the ring and beat down Cena.
- They both went for moves off the top, but Cena got his knees up first, then moved. Balor and McDonagh both wound up in the corner, and Cena, in an incredible display of strength, hit an AA on both men at the same time. Cena ducked as Mysterio attempted to hit him with the Intercontinental title and then hit Mysterio with an AA, but Liv Morgan’s hit as she made her shocking return.
- It looked like Morgan was going to help Mysterio, but instead, she slapped Mysterio. She jumped onto Cena, and as it turns out, her slap to Mysterio was all a ruse. Morgan low-blowed Cena, allowing Mysterio to hit a 619 and top rope splash to pin Cena for the win.
Following his loss at WWE Survivor Series 2025 , Cena now has just one remaining appearance left: his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13.
WWE Survivor Series 2025 Results: What’s Next for Dominik Mysterio and John Cena?
With Cena’s loss to Mysterio at WWE Survivor Series, Cena won’t end his career as Intercontinental Champion, but he may very well lose his final match.
Cena, of course, will face the winner of the “Last Time is Now” tournament in just two weeks on Saturday Night’s Main Event. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Sports Illustrated), there have long been plans in place for Cena to defend his Intercontinental title against Gunther in the final match of his legendary career.
After Cena’s loss to Mysterio at Survivor Series 2025, however, WWE appears to be moving forward with that bout as a non-title match. In looking at the remaining “Last Time is Now” bracket, it’s apparent that Gunther is the overwhelming favorite to face and defeat Cena on Dec. 13 in Washington, D.C. That outcome would mean that Gunther would have ended the careers of both Goldberg and Cena in a matter of mere months and done so in victorious fashion.
That’s the right call, too. Cena should put someone over on his way out, and Gunther is as good of a candidate to that as any.
A win over Cena will undoubtedly elevate Gunther to incredible heights, and after his win over Cena at Survivor Series, Mysterio has undoubtedly proven himself capable of being a main eventer during this brief rivalry with “The Champ.” Fittingly an Eddie Guerrero-esque heel who generates babyface-ish reactions, Mysterio is right on the cusp of establishing himself as a world title contender.
For now, however, Mysterio is sitting pretty as the Intercontinental Champion once again, and now, he has Morgan back on his side.
For the past few years, Mysterio and The Judgment Day have dominated Raw’s top storylines, and though some critics have called for the end of the group, it still has plenty of life left, especially with Morgan back in the mix. As The Judgment Day continues to remain incredibly relevant on Raw, there’s no need to rush the stable’s dismantling.
Likewise, Mysterio isn’t going to be immediately catapulted to the main event scene, but after dominating the IC title scene for much of 2025, facing Cena and beating the 17-time world champion at WWE Survivor Series, Mysterio’s stock continues to soar and he should be face of the Intercontinental title scene well into 2026.
