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John Cena Pays Tribute To Multiple Former WWE Rivals In Final SmackDown Match

By John Canton • Published Sep 06, 2025 07:00 EDT
John Cena GTS

John Cena competed on WWE SmackDown for the final time, and he hit several moves that are familiar to the fans.

For the final time, John Cena appeared on WWE SmackDown in Chicago in what Cena announced was his last time on the blue brand. The rest of Cena’s appearances on his retirement tour over the next three plus months will be on Raw, PLE’s and Saturday Night’s Main Event.

After doing a promo thanking the Chicago fans for being honest with him and for being the best in WWE, John Cena was confronted by Sami Zayn, who offered Cena a US Title match. It was ten years ago when Zayn challenged Cena for the US Title, so Zayn was returning that favour.

During the match with Zayn, Cena did some moves that some of his former rivals have used on him. It’s similar to when Cena used the Styles Clash of AJ Styles during his Clash in Paris match with Logan Paul.

In his final SmackDown match with Zayn that went about 20 minutes, Cena busted out several moves of his past rivals. Cena paid tribute to his first WWE opponent, Kurt Angle, by hitting an Angle Slam and applying the Ankle Lock during the match.

There was also a spot in the match where Cena lifted up Zayn and hit a Popup Powerbomb just like Kevin Owens, who is Zayn’s best friend.

John Cena also hit a Spear like Edge. Roman Reigns did the Spear as well, but Cena did Edge mannerisms. On commentary, Corey Graves referenced Edge as “another infamous Canadian” rather than saying his name because Edge works for AEW using his real name, Adam Copeland.

Since it was Chicago, Cena even used the GTS, which is CM Punk’s finishing move.

John Cena Attacked By Brock Lesnar Again

After 20 minutes of grueling action between John Cena and Sami Zayn, Brock Lesnar finally made his presence felt by pulling the referee out of the ring to end the match.

After he did that, Lesnar hit an F5 on Zayn and an F5 on Cena. Lesnar picked up Cena and hit another F5 on the former WWE Champion as well.

Moments after Lesnar’s attack, WWE made it official by announcing that at WWE Wrestlepalooza on September 20th, Brock Lesnar will face John Cena in one of Cena’s final matches.