John Cena has provided a profound explanation for the polarizing conclusion of his retirement match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he tapped out to GUNTHER with a smile on his face.
While the finish sparked intense debate among fans who felt it betrayed his 20-year “Never Give Up” mantra, Cena viewed the submission as a poetic and peaceful end to his legendary in-ring career.
Speaking with Cody Rhodes on What Do You Want To Talk About?, Cena detailed the emotional depth he felt during those final minutes in the ring. “I envision something beautiful. Saturday far exceeded whatever was in my heart and soul,” Cena began.
“I’m out there, and they hate the guy I’m working with. They universally cheer me. That is fucking rare. For the last five minutes, everything I preach about story, drama, and having a conversation with the audience…the ones I love are in the front row, and 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.”
Cena used a somber but beautiful analogy to describe the feeling of letting go of his active wrestling persona.
“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 who 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,’” he told Rhodes.
