“What A Way To Close That Chapter,” Says Ex-WWE Champion After In-Ring Retirement
This iconic WWE star is very satisfied with his retirement match, which closed his story.
WWE legend John Cena had a year-long retirement tour last year, which included a sudden heel turn that had the plug pulled from it not long after it began, a WWE Title reign, an Intercontinental Title reign, and a retirement match against Gunther, which ended in Cena losing via tapout to Gunther’s now infamous sleeper hold.
The entire tour was polarizing in its reception from fans, to say the least, and WWE’s creative team and CCO, Triple H, came under fire for many of their decisions, especially the final match and finish.
John Cena, however, has very different views about it and has since called it a Star Wars-esque ending to his story. He was asked about his final match recently in an interview with ESPN’s Rich Eisen on the Rich Eisen Show, and the GOAT said that it was a great way to close his chapter.
WWE Legend John Cena Says It’s Not Possible To Please Everyone
During his interview with Rich Eisen, Cena stressed the idea that it’s not possible to please everyone or make decisions that will please all the fans, especially after a career spanning over two decades.
Well, it’s — and again I’m speaking from my perspective and I am aware that everything I say is going to create chatter and that’s a good thing because, you know, hopefully people were interested. But there’s no right way to please everyone when you’re truly closing a 23, 24-year journey where, you know, our fans have invited me into their living room 52 weeks a year plus ancillary premium live events for 23, 24 years.
John Cena says he gave it his all till the final ounce, and that’s what satisfied him with how his chapter was closed.
The best you can do is do all you can. And honestly, that’s where the moment of clarity and fulfillment came from, where it’s like at the end of my physical journey in the WWE, after that last match, listening to the noise one final time knowing that, man, I don’t think I can give another ounce. What a way to close that chapter.
Cena then compared his polarising final bout to his equally polarising heel turn.
But it’s not — it’s a bold creative decision. Just like the John Cena heel turn is a bold creative decision. It’s — you’re not gonna please everyone. Our fans are very vocal and very involved, which is why I’m excited about the future of what’s to come where we can try to involve them more and hopefully crowning a champion of the John Cena Classic.
But it’s those moments where you do take a risk. You do travel outside the predictable norm and that incites conversation and you got to be ready for all angles of that.
The former 17-time WWE World Champion was one of the biggest faces in the company’s history and arguably for the longest stretch. Post his in-ring retirement, Cena has made a couple of special appearances, at WrestleMania 42 in April and most recently, at Backlash, where he announced the inception of a new tournament, and Championship called the John Cena Classic.
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