• “Just because John Cena said it doesn’t mean that it was the right decision” – Former WWE Commentator
During his appearance on Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About” podcast, John Cena explained why he smiled before tapping out to GUNTHER in his retirement match on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event:
“I envision something beautiful. Saturday far exceeded whatever was in my heart and soul. I know I’m out there one last time. I’m out there and they hate the guy I’m working with. They universally cheer me. That is f**king rare.
For the last 5 minutes, everything I preach about story, drama, and having a conversation with the audience… the ones I love are in the front row, I know my colleagues are watching on the monitor in the back.
We’re just in a sleeper hold, but we’re having that conversation with the audience. As I essentially take my last breath and have struggled. You think of somebody, the natural causes scenario or however we picture loss in our life, all of us have been through it.
They struggle and struggle, but they hang on just long enough to make sure to say goodbye to everyone that is meaningful in their lives. That whole day was so many meaningful and vulnerable conversations.
Then you realize, I’ve connected with everybody I love. Physically, I feel great. I think it’s time to take that last breath. I hate to keep going back to obituaries, but that was, ‘this person died peacefully.'”
Former WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman had the following to say about this finish on the Coach & Bro podcast:
“I thought it was complete bullsh*t, and I love John Cena and all the people that heard me say, ‘Would it have killed them to literally let them go home happy one night?’ ‘You don’t understand wrestling. Look what Cena said. This was the way he wanted it.’
So all you idiots, and it’s actually some people I respect, and I also said that on social media. This is wrestling. Just because John Cena said it doesn’t mean that it was the right decision, does it?”
• What ESPN Deal Prevents WWE From Doing
The idea of WWE bringing back brand-exclusive premium live events isn’t being held up by creative hesitation – it’s being blocked by the terms of its media rights agreement.
During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp addressed fan questions about whether WWE might ever return to RAW-only or SmackDown-only PLEs. His answer made it clear that the obstacle is financial, not roster depth or storytelling.
According to Sapp, WWE’s current deal with ESPN is structured around a specific type of event. ESPN pays for PLEs that feature a limited number of matches, typically five or six per show, and does not pay for events that only showcase half of WWE’s roster.
Sapp explained that while the current format has allowed WWE to place more major matches on weekly television, it also removes any incentive to produce additional, brand-specific PLEs. Without extra compensation, expanding the number or type of events wouldn’t benefit WWE under the existing agreement.
He added that unless ESPN agrees to renegotiate or expand the deal to include additional events, WWE is locked into its current approach. As things stand, there’s no financial upside for WWE to revive brand-exclusive PLEs, even if fans want them back.
