The Last Time Is Now. It's the name given to the tournament in which 16 wrestling giants have been competing to be the one opponent in John Cena's final fight before retirement.
And that final fight is now - Saturday night - in Washington DC, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career that has seen the American become one of wrestling's biggest and most bankable stars.
In the 8,570 days since his debut, Cena has clinched 17 world titles and coined the iconic You Can't See Me catchphrase - but the 48-year-old's impact goes far beyond that.
If you were to pose the question who is John Cena?, depending on who you ask, the answers might vary from legendary WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) superstar, to successful film actor, while some will say he's Mr Make-A-Wish (more on that later).
Since his 2002 debut, there's been an evolution in his own wrestling character - transitioning from ruthless aggression rookie, to a Doctor of Thuganomics rapper, and eventually a heroic character known for a Never Give Up attitude.
Despite criticism from some fans of his in-ring ability, with occasional chants of you can't wrestle through the years, there's no doubt that he's an exceptional wrestling talent, says Brandon Thurston, editor and owner of wrestling website, Wrestlenomics.
He feels something changed in 2005, after which WWE became increasingly scripted in a way it had not been before, as it entered into a more controlled, family friendly PG era. But Cena managed to thrive.
He's definitely been the biggest draw over the time which I would say stretches from 2005 to roughly 2015, Mr Thurston says, with Cena's merchandise also regularly topping sales for the company.
There's little question that he was WWE's most important economic wrestler throughout that time - in terms of pay-per-view buys, which were still central in that era, TV ratings, and as a house show draw.
Outside the ring too, he's a personality who people gravitate towards and want to listen to, says Mr Thurston.
With The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin no longer full-time performers, WWE bosses were looking for a new star to emerge. Brandon feels WWE leadership recognized Cena would be a very reliable and extremely hardworking person whom they could entrust with such a spot.
Other wrestling experts have suggested Cena's presence over the years helped slow the slide of WWE ratings trending downwards. Having achieved so much within wrestling, Cena could just come in and be a wrestler and walk out, adds Dr Gillian Brooks. Instead, he has built a personal brand that comes across as real.
As Cena approaches the end of his wrestling career, he reflects on the physical toll it has taken on his body, undergoing several operations throughout his career. Fans are excited yet saddened to see him retire, as he has left an indelible mark not just in wrestling but in popular culture through his various charitable works and personal endeavors.
His last opponent will be Gunther, the winner of the Last Time Is Now tournament, and anticipation is high as fans prepare to witness Cena's last legendary act in the ring.



















