Gunther Compares His Shocking Submission Win over John Cena to Brock Lesnar Ending The Undertaker’s 21-0 Streak at WrestleMania 30

Gunther says making John Cena tap out in his final WWE outing mirrors Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s 21-0 WrestleMania streak.

Gunther Compares His Shocking Submission Win over John Cena to Brock Lesnar Ending The Undertaker’s 21-0 Streak at WrestleMania 30

Gunther, John Cena, The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar (via WWE)

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It is safe to say that Gunther is still basking in the glory of defeating John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event in his final WWE match. ‘The Ring General’ proved to be a man of his word as he had vowed to make the 17-time world champion finally give up, and that is exactly what happened. 

Cena tapped out to Gunther’s sleeper hold, submitting for the first time in more than two decades. It was far from the storybook ending millions of fans around the world hoped to see for Cena’s career, but it is a moment the Austrian powerhouse will carry with him for the rest of his time in the ring.

By forcing Cena to tap out, Gunther directly challenged the “Never give up” mantra that defined Cena’s two-decade legacy. The decision did not sit well with fans, prompting Triple H to later defend the booking. The shocking finish has since drawn comparisons to another infamous WWE moment: Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak at WrestleMania 30 in 2014.

Lesnar’s victory over ‘The Deadman’ remains one of the most controversial decisions in company history. At the time, the WWE Hall of Famer was 21-0 at WrestleMania, and many fans believed he would retire undefeated on the grandest stage. Even today, debate continues over whether the streak should ever have ended. 

In the years that followed, however, Lesnar became WWE’s ultimate final boss, dominating the company and dismantling stars such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, and Seth Rollins on route to long championship reigns. Gunther believes his win over Cena carries similar weight. 

Speaking to TMZ Sports, he addressed the comparisons and acknowledged the backlash while standing by the decision:

I think you can make it because I think back to then, it was a similar situation, there was a real outrage about it, and it was the right thing back then because Brock, he’s still in the company, and was the mountain to climb for 10 years now. It is a similar situation that also comes with a bit of pressure because at the end of the day, what I achieved that night is a gift, and it’s up to me to protect that gift and keep it up.

Gunther via TMZ Sports

Just as Lesnar’s win reshaped the company’s landscape, Gunther’s submission victory has instantly elevated him into monster-heel territory. Cena had not tapped out in more than 20 years, and with a brand built on never giving up, few believed his career would end that way. Yet on December 13, it did, and the shockwaves are still being felt.

The Austrian also addressed his victory on Raw, walking into a nuclear wave of boos. Throughout the segment, he drew the ire of several WWE stars, including Otis, R-Truth, and Adam Pearce, before punctuating the moment by mocking AJ Styles as he was ordered to leave the arena.

Gunther calls out WWE fans for their hypocrisy regarding their polarising reaction to John Cena throughout his career

Gunther recently called out what he sees as hypocrisy among WWE fans who now overwhelmingly support John Cena after years of criticism. Cena’s submission loss at Saturday Night’s Main Event marked the first time he had tapped out in nearly two decades, a stunning end for a performer whose entire brand was built around the mantra “Never Give Up.” 

Gunther and John Cena at SNME
Gunther and John Cena at SNME (via WWE)

While Cena always had a loyal following, he was also one of the most polarizing figures in company history. At the height of his career, arenas routinely echoed with dueling chants of “Let’s Go Cena” and “Cena Sucks.” 

There were countless occasions when fans labeled him as an overpushed star who couldn’t wrestle, with reactions at events such as WrestleMania 22, ECW One Night Stand 2006, and Money in the Bank 2011 serving as prime examples of the divided response he consistently received.

Speaking with TMZ Sports, Gunther didn’t mince words, telling fans to stop with their hypocrisy, adding that they had no one to blame but themselves if they truly believed Cena would last forever. He also emphasized that while the match will be remembered as The Last Real Champion’s swan song, it is a moment he will proudly carry for the rest of his career. 

Stop crying. It’s okay. Life goes on. I think people were getting nervous, realizing that the whole thing is coming to an end now. Sometimes, though, it’s a little funny to me with fans because in this last run that Cena had, he had a connection that — I’ve never seen something like that before. But it’s also funny when you think back to 10-15 years or something like that, he was the most hated guy in the whole roster.

Gunther via TMZ Sports

Gunther’s point is that Cena was once a babyface who was relentlessly booed and criticized for being shoved into the spotlight, yet years later, many fans act as if that backlash never existed. In recent years, however, the narrative has shifted. 

Even during portions of 2025 when Cena leaned into a heel role, fans largely embraced him. By the final stretch of his retirement tour, it was clear the fans were firmly behind him. Many in attendance at Saturday Night’s Main Event were longtime supporters who grew up watching Cena, making it understandable why they hoped to see him end his career on a winning note.

Meanwhile, on Raw, WWE teased a potential future clash between Gunther and AJ Styles. With Styles already announcing his retirement for 2026, some fans are concerned that ‘The Ring General’ — now quietly labeled the new “Legend Killer” after retiring both Goldberg and Cena this year could be the one to bring Styles’ legendary career to a close.

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