Gunther Mocks John Cena’s 2002 Rookie Gimmick as Retirement Match Nears

Ahead of John Cena's swansong at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13th, Gunther fired shots at Cena's 'colored jots guy' gimmick.

Gunther Mocks John Cena’s 2002 Rookie Gimmick as Retirement Match Nears

John Cena and Gunther (via WWE)

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Fans already understand the historic weight behind Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. The show isn’t just another premium WWE spectacle: it marks the final chapter of John Cena’s legendary 23-year career. His last opponent? Gunther, the dominant Austrian powerhouse who earned his shot by conquering the Last Time Is Now Tournament.

And if reports are to be believed, Cena’s farewell won’t just be emotional. Wrestling journalist Bryan Alvarez has noted that the event will not have a strict time limit and that Cena vs. Gunther will open the card, giving them the rare opportunity to craft a long-form classic worthy of the moment.

Moreover, Gunther will step into the ring with the man he once hated watching on television. Appearing on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday, the former 2-time world champion reflected on how the WWE locker room views Cena, and how he personally never connected with him as a fan.

I mean, I can only speak for myself. And I haven’t really — I shook hands twice with him, I didn’t really have any interactions with him otherwise. I just remember when I started wrestling, like 20 years ago now, I remember that I hated that guy in jorts on that TV week by week. And I always thought it doesn’t belong in the ring.

Gunther via ESPN’s First Take

Gunther then doubled down on his belief in traditional wrestling, contrasting it with Cena’s more entertainment-forward approach.

So I’m a big purist, I’m a big traditionalist. And I said it on Monday, John Cena’s definitely the greatest sports entertainer of all time. But I’m the greatest professional wrestler there is right now, so that’s going to be the conflict.

Gunther via ESPN’s First Take

His “guy in the jorts” remark touches directly on how John Cena was perceived during his early years. When Cena first debuted in 2002, he was often criticized as a limited in-ring performer. With bright, city-matching tights and no defining personality, even Cena himself has admitted he expected to be fired before he ever found his identity.

That identity arrived thanks to one unexpected moment. On a European tour bus, Cena began freestyling for fun. Stephanie McMahon overheard him and immediately recognized raw, untapped potential. She then encouraged him to bring that swagger to TV, and everything changed.

Cena dressed as Vanilla Ice for the 2002 Halloween episode of SmackDown, stunning the locker room and fans with his freestyle charisma. The response was thunderous. Soon after, the ‘Doctor of Thuganomics’ exploded into one of WWE’s most popular acts, delivering sharp-edged promos that made him a breakout star by late 2003.

Still, despite his meteoric rise, his flashier, entertainment-centric style never fully clicked with wrestling purists, people exactly like Gunther. And now, decades later, the two worlds they represent are set to collide on one of the biggest stages imaginable.

Gunther names Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero as his WWE dream opponents

Gunther has established himself as one of the hardest-hitting and technically dominant forces in WWE today. With a resume that includes the longest Intercontinental Championship reign in company history at 666 days and two runs as World Heavyweight champion, the Austrian powerhouse is widely viewed as a cornerstone of WWE’s future.

Gunther and Sheamus
Gunther and Sheamus (via WWE)

Earlier this year, Gunther added another monumental achievement to his growing legacy when he retired Bill Goldberg. That moment, along with his unmatched consistency, made him the natural choice as the final opponent for John Cena on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

‘The Ring General’ has already gone toe-to-toe with some of WWE’s biggest names, including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Jey Uso. Yet, despite that impressive list, Gunther revealed that there are still two legendary performers he wishes he could have faced in his career. 

During his appearance on ESPN’s First Take, he named two all-time greats as his dream opponents: Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle.

Selfishly, somebody that I would love to compete with, I think Kurt Angle would be great if he would [still be actively competing]. He’s somebody I always really enjoyed watching, or somebody like Eddie Guerrero, I think those would be guys that come to mind that would be great to have around right now.

Gunther via ESPN’s First Take

Kurt Angle is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted athletes ever to step into a wrestling ring. Known for mastering the industry faster than almost anyone before or after him, Angle delivered classics with Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Shawn Michaels, matches that inspired an entire generation of wrestlers, including stars like Gunther.

Eddie Guerrero, meanwhile, remains one of WWE’s most beloved figures. His unmatched storytelling ability, electric charisma, and world-class in-ring skill created countless lifelong fans. His emotional WWE Championship victory at No Way Out 2004 is still considered one of the most unforgettable moments in wrestling history.

While Guerrero tragically passed away in November 2005 and Angle has long since retired after a career marked by both triumphs and battles with injury and addiction, fans can only imagine the magic that could have unfolded had Gunther stepped into the ring with either legend.

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