John Cena revealed a major behind-the-scenes detail about his match with AJ Styles while speaking at MEGACON Orlando, confirming that he went into the bout already knowing Styles was preparing to step away from the ring.
During the fan Q&A session, Cena was asked about his match with Styles after a fan told him the moment brought them to tears. That opened the door for Cena to explain why the match carried more meaning than most people realized at the time. He first spoke about how the atmosphere itself played a huge role in shaping the moment, describing a crowd reaction unlike anything he had seen before.
“I agree with you, but I think like what makes moments, right? It’s all of us. We all make things special, especially when it comes to live entertainment.”
Cena then described the overwhelming visual of the crowd, noting how the audience created a unique environment that added to the emotion of the match.
“The atmosphere in Perth was like something I’d never seen. I’d never seen that many like t-shirts. I know for a fact we didn’t give them away, but it’s like we gave them away. I wore yellow that night and like the whole crowd was yellow.”
But the most revealing part of Cena’s story came when he explained that the match meant more to him personally because of what Styles had told him ahead of time. That knowledge changed how he approached the entire moment.
“I knew AJ shared with me that he was going to retire in January. So I really think the world of him that wanted to do something special and make it special.”
Cena continued by explaining that he normally doesn’t rewatch his matches, preferring to live in the moment rather than critique himself afterward. However, this particular match stood out enough that he went back to watch it again — something he rarely does.
“Man, like halfway through I don’t watch a lot of matches back because I like to live the moment. I don’t like to get into my head about like what could I have done different? I can’t. It’s done. That’s one that I have watched back and like man the audience was calling spots for us. It was great.”
He also revealed that the match itself happened largely because of fan demand, not traditional storytelling or promotion. According to Cena, fans made it clear they wanted to see him face Styles, especially as his career moved toward its later stages.
“The AJ and I came about because the sentiment was you’re wasting John on his retirement tour and we want to see AJ Styles. Like I put it out socially. You guys overwhelmingly said I would love to see that.”
That combination — knowing Styles was preparing to retire and hearing overwhelming fan support — created the perfect storm for a match that carried emotional weight both inside and outside the ring.
What do you think about John Cena revealing that he knew AJ Styles was planning to retire before their match? Do you think knowing that kind of information changes how wrestlers approach a match, or does the crowd reaction matter more? Share your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
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