John Cena’s Final WWE Match Sparked Intense Backstage Emotions, Hall of Famer Reveals

After John Cena retired after wrestling his final WWE match against Gunther, the 17-time champion received a heartfelt ovation backstage.

John Cena’s Final WWE Match Sparked Intense Backstage Emotions, Hall of Famer Reveals

John Cena and Mark Henry (via WWE)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

John Cena’s swansong led to his 23-year WWE career coming to a bittersweet end. One of the most popular and influential professional wrestlers of his generation, the 17-time world champion officially bid farewell to the company following his final match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event inside Capital One Arena on December 13th. 

Headlining the four-match card, Cena faced the Austrian powerhouse for the first time and fell in defeat. In the closing moments of the bout, Cena was trapped in Gunther’s sleeper hold but attempted one last rally, even flashing a smile to the crowd as fans passionately chanted his name. 

Despite their support, Cena could not continue and ultimately tapped out, bringing his historic in-ring career to an end. Following the 48-year-old’s final match, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry offered a firsthand account of the emotional scene backstage. 

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Henry described the overwhelming response from the locker room as Cena returned behind the curtain.

I walked through the back to do this broadcast, and there was a line of about 30 or 40 people to get to John, hugging and consoling him. We gave the salute, and I kept going and came up here, but like, people were emotional. The last time I saw people crying emotional like that was… somebody passed away.

Mark Henry via Busted Open Radio

Henry was quick to emphasize that while Cena’s wrestling career has come to a close, his presence in entertainment is far from over. His departure applies strictly to in-ring competition, not to his public profile or professional pursuits. 

Moreover, Cena’s future is firmly rooted in Hollywood, where he has already appeared in projects such as F9, Bumblebee, and Peacemaker, and he is expected to continue expanding his acting resume. 

In addition, the wrestling legend has reportedly signed a five-year ambassador contract with WWE, ensuring he will remain connected to the company through non-wrestling appearances in the years ahead.

After the match, the entire locker room gathered in the ring to honor him, including Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and many others, symbolizing the respect he earned across generations. 

In a poignant final tribute, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes placed their respective world championship belts over Cena’s shoulders, marking the end of an era while celebrating a legacy that will endure far beyond the squared circle.

Gunther faces the anger of WWE fans as he exits Capital One Arena with heavy security after retiring John Cena

For more than 20 years, John Cena preached hustle, loyalty, and respect. Above all, he carried a message that resonated across generations: Never give up. Perhaps for that very reason, fans inside Washington’s Capital One Arena were left furious following Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Saturday Night's Main Event aftermath
Saturday Night’s Main Event aftermath (via WWE)

As already stated, Cena suffered defeat at the hands of Gunther. The loss itself was not what sparked the outrage, but the manner in which it happened. As the Austrian cinched in a sleeper hold, the crowd erupted with chants of “Don’t give up!” Yet, despite spending decades telling fans to do exactly that, Cena did the unthinkable: he tapped out.

Following the match, Cena saluted the crowd in a heartfelt goodbye. WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H soon joined him at ringside, alongside Stephanie McMahon, Cody Rhodes, longtime executive Bruce Prichard, and several other company figures. However, the mood inside the arena shifted almost instantly.

Fans turned their anger toward WWE’s corporate leadership, showering them with boos and chanting, “You f***ed up!” Those chants carried into the post-show moments, where a visibly defiant Levesque appeared to dismiss the crowd’s emotions.

Gunther, meanwhile, bore the brunt of the fan backlash as well, both during and after the match. While “F*** you Gunther” chants were already heard inside the arena, the hostility escalated once the show went off the air. New footage revealed just how intense the reaction became after the event concluded.

As the Austrian powerhouse made his way out of Capital One Arena and toward his bus, fans were caught on video booing and screaming the same “F*** you Gunther” chants, showing no signs of cooling off. Security escorted him closely throughout the exit to prevent fans from getting too close, underscoring how real the backlash had become.

A fan-shot video later surfaced on X, capturing Gunther’s departure from the venue. According to the post, additional security was required to ensure he boarded the bus safely. Despite the hostility, the former 2-time world champion ultimately left the arena unharmed.

In all likelihood, the former world champion was pleased with the reaction he generated, as it may have solidified his status as one of WWE’s top heels. The moment appears to set the stage for a major next chapter, one where Gunther could open Monday Night Raw and stand tall through extended chants and boos from the crowd.

Also Read: