John Cena On Scrapped WWE Plans To Dethrone Roman Reigns: “Was Gonna Win 17”

John Cena revealed in a recent interview that he was going to win his 17th World Title originally in a different match.

John Cena had a storied career in WWE and was the face of the company for almost two decades.

During this time, he was WWE World Champion 17 times. The 17th time, though, came at WrestleMania 41 last year against Cody Rhodes after a shocking heel turn, which was part of his retirement tour.

But The Champ has recently revealed that he was supposed to win his 17th title in 2021 by defeating Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam, but didn’t because the finish was changed after WWE confirmed a returning Brock Lesnar late in the day of the event.

John Cena Shares Details About Changed Finish Versus Roman Reigns

In a match that was a clash of generations, Reigns won the bout, and Cena was attacked by a returning Brock Lesnar after the match.

In an interview with O’Shea Jackson Jr & TJ Henderson on No-Contest Wrestling, John Cena revealed that the finish was originally going to be different, and he was the one slated to win the title that night.

In the last moment, we had a surprise guest booked, he came out after the match was over. Brock. They didn’t secure Brock until 5 PM that day. I was going to win 17. We were going to have someone come out and restart the match, Roman was going to take it back.

Cena says that there were originally a lot of finishers planned for the bout to give the crowd a great match.

This is creative. The way we were going to put together the match, we were going to give them a hell of a match. Everything out the door. No rules, no nothing. Tons of finishers because I was going to win, and then Roman was going to take it back. You have this hard fought battle, and through a nefarious set of rules, match is restarted.

But then, late in the day, Lesnar was secured for an appearance, and talent relations informed John Cena that they would be switching the finish to let Roman get over clean just an hour before the match. Cena, being the professional that he is, claims he did not flip out at the change.

Then, we secure Brock. [Talent relations] comes and says, ‘I need to see you. We’re switching the finish.’ ‘To what?’ ‘Roman over. Clean.’ ‘Okay. Let me talk to Roman and Paul.’ We go in, ‘You got the news? What do we do?’ I said, ‘One spear. That’s it. Whatever match you want to have, that’s fine. You beat me with your finish once.’ I love Paul, Paul Heyman has been a great mentor. He gets it and he recognizes somebody who sees it’s not about them, it’s about the story. This is going to make Roman better. It switched. Right there. An hour before. It happens to everyone. I didn’t flip out. It happens all the time. I was supposed to win 17 that night.

John Cena wrestled his final match last year against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event, a bout which he lost after submitting to Gunther’s sleeperhold.

h/t: fightful.com