John Cena’s final WWE match was already unforgettable, but one of the most powerful moments of the night wasn’t even on the script.
After Cena tapped out to GUNTHER at Saturday Night’s Main Event, emotions spilled over during the post-show — especially during Cody Rhodes’ ringside interview. As it turns out, that raw moment wasn’t planned at all.
According to Fightful Select, several of the most emotional scenes following Cena’s retirement match were completely off the cuff.
“There were a lot of off-the-cuff moments that were said to have not been planned for the show, including the emotional ringside interview with Cody Rhodes, and some of the in-ring during Cena’s post match.”
That unscripted energy was on full display when Rhodes spoke with Jackie Redmond and struggled to hold back tears while reflecting on Cena’s legacy. Trying to put into words what Cena meant to the business, Rhodes said:
“It’s really hard to describe, in the sense of all the positives he brought to our industry and leaving it better than we found it. Wrestling is… there’s a way it ends. He did everything right by the book, and it’s still like — when it’s that good, you don’t want it to end.”
Rhodes admitted that even small details in the ring hit him hard emotionally.
“I’m not trying to get emotional on his night, but more than anything, take a moment and think about those sneakers, and the pump-ups before that, and the man that filled those, and what he was able to do through good and bad times.”
He also pointed out how the crowd reacted — or didn’t react — in a way Cena rarely experienced during his career. Rhodes revealed that being part of the show was never a question when Triple H asked him.
“Tonight, everyone was just chanting ‘Let’s Go Cena’ — not a ‘Cena sucks’ chant in the house. It’s everything. I’m so happy that it happened. It’s a great, great arena with wrestling history, and I’m so glad it happened there.”
“Triple H asked me if I was going to be part of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Are you kidding? To be part of the final show of Cena, to be able to bask in this glory and hope…”
And perhaps the most telling sign of Cena’s impact came after the bell, when fans refused to leave until he did.
“John led with his mind. He’s a businessman, and he was trained by businessmen, and he trained us to be businessmen. So to go out here where you’ve got 19,000 people and not a soul leaves until he leaves — that’s a sign he had a great career, and we can only hope to have something like that. Hats off to the greatest of all time.”
While the finish itself sparked loud reactions from the crowd, the unplanned moments afterward showed just how deep Cena’s influence runs inside WWE. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments aren’t written — they’re felt.
Do you think WWE made the right call by letting Cena’s final night unfold naturally instead of scripting everything? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know how that moment hit you.
December 15, 2025 1:40 pm