John Cena’s retirement at Saturday Night’s Main Event sparked massive discussion across the pro wrestling world, particularly after GUNTHER forced The GOAT to tap out in his final match. While some fans praised the moment as symbolic, others directed heavy backlash towards The Ring General for ending Cena’s career in that fashion.
Speaking on the “What Do You Wanna Talk About” podcast with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Cena addressed the criticism surrounding GUNTHER and made it clear where his respect lies.
“Honored to be in there with somebody who takes the mat as sacred. I don’t care who likes or doesn’t like GUNTHER: respect is a core value. Motherf**ker hits hard and pure, and he’s all about this 20×20 box.
Whether he does it my way, a wise man once said, ‘just because it’s the way John does it, doesn’t mean it’s the way it needs to be done’, and I’ve got the upmost respect for him.”
Cena also went into detail about why he chose to tap out in his final match, explaining that the moment represented closure, peace and a final conversation with the audience.
“I envisioned something beautiful. Saturday far exceeded whatever was in my heart and soul. So I know I’m out there one last time, they had to move the side ramps in to get more seats, it was almost like a fire hazard to go down the ramp. You can not fit any more people in there.
So going up to this event I made sure, everyone I talked to, all the podcasts I did, I said ‘hey, I know you might not think I’m gonna retire, I am. I’m comfortable with that, please just get the closure you need’.
Now I’m out there. They hate the guy I’m working with, they universally cheer me, that is f**king rare, and for the last five minutes everything I preach about story, and drama, and having a conversation with the audience. The ones I love are front row, my colleagues are watching on a monitor back there. We’re just in a Sleeper Hold man, but we’re having that conversation with the audience.
So as I essentially take my last breath, I have struggled, if you think of somebody, however we picture loss in our life, they struggle, they struggle, they hang on just long enough to say goodbye to everybody that’s been meaningful in their lives, and that day was so many vulnerable, meaningful conversations.
Then you realise, I’ve connected with everybody I love. Physically I feel great. I think it’s time to take that last breath, and that’s that, I hate to keep going back morbidly to obituaries, but like ‘this person died peacefully’, and knowing that we’re in a good place, we’re gonna be great going forward. The bottom of the t-shirt says ‘I gave everything, thank you for everything’. And that was that going peacefully.”
