WWE Changed Original Plans For John Cena’s Final Match
A new report suggests that WWE changed what they had originally planned for John Cena’s final match.
In the days and weeks leading up to John Cena’s final match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C., there were numerous reports about when the match would take place.
While it made sense for Cena’s first and only match with Gunther to go on last, there were initially reports that they could open the show. Many fans online were outraged about that, and WWE likely realized that would have been the wrong move.
There were four matches at the Saturday Night’s Main Event special, and if Cena’s match with Gunther went on first, then the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’ match with the NXT Champion Oba Femi likely would have gone on last.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed that WWE did plan on putting Cena-Gunther in the opening match position.
“There was a match order in place where Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi was listed last. That would have been a huge mistake.”
As we saw at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Gunther beat Cena in the main event with a sleeper hold, and Cena tapped out to lose the match. It was the first time Cena had lost a match by giving up in over 20 years.
John Cena Explained Why He Smiled Before Tapping Out
The finish of the Gunther/Cena match saw Gunther apply the dreaded Sleeper on the mat; Cena smirked, and he tapped out. While explaining his decision to smile at the end, John Cena said it was like a way of saying his wrestling character died.
We’re having that conversation with the audience. And as I’m essentially taking my last breath, I thought about how, when someone is passing — whether it’s natural causes or however we picture loss — they struggle and struggle, hanging on just long enough to say goodbye to everyone who mattered in their life.
Then you realize — I’ve connected with everyone I love. Physically, I feel great. And I think it’s time to take that last breath — and that’s it.
You always read, ‘This person died peacefully.’ That’s what it felt like. I faced death with a smile — knowing we’re in a good place, knowing things are going to be great moving forward.
Even though he’s done as a wrestler, WWE will be releasing a documentary about John Cena’s final WWE run in 2026.