ONE LAST TIME: FINN BALOR ON JOHN CENA'S GENIUS, HEEL TURN, AND GUNTHER MATCH
John Cena's 23-year WWE run ends Saturday vs. Gunther. We look back at his controversial heel turn, 17 titles, and his painful split with Nikki Bella.
It was June 22, 2002—just another SmackDown episode, or so everyone in WWE thought. But that night changed things, becoming a show that people would remember.
A 25-year-old John Cena stepped into the ring and challenged Kurt Angle, one of the biggest names in the company. He muttered the words 'ruthless aggression.'
Sure, it was planned. But the fact that WWE trusted a rookie from Massachusetts in such a spot showed how much faith they had in him. And it paid off big time.
This Saturday, Cena will say goodbye to WWE for good. His 23-year career has included pretty much everything: tons of titles, a broken relationship with a fellow wrestler, and a final year that got mixed reactions.
It feels unreal to see John leaving, Finn Balor, a former WWE world champion and Cena's opponent, told Daily Mail Sport. Fun fact: the last piece of WWE stuff that I bought as a fan was a John Cena shirt.
John talks to everyone. People might think his character is for kids, but I was an adult when I bought that shirt. I was already in the wrestling business, performing in Japan. He connects with everyone—kids, adults, boys, girls, young and old. He’ll be remembered as one of the greatest.
John Cena's WWE career ends this Saturday with his final match.
His time with the company has had its ups and downs, like his controversial run as a heel in his last year.
But here's the thing about John Cena: he's always won over fans from all walks of life.
That's partly why his farewell year was so interesting. In March, he turned heel—the bad guy—for the first time, joining forces with The Rock to win a record-breaking 17th world title against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.
To many, it felt off, maybe a bit rushed. The Rock disappeared, and the story kind of fizzled, especially after rapper Travis Scott, who was part of their trio, vanished from TV.
"I enjoyed it because I like it when people try new things," Balor said, sharing his view from inside WWE. It was made for that moment when the screens went from dark to bright. Maybe some didn't like it while it was happening, but when we got the John Cena we love back, it was great. I think it was brave and well done, and I'd like to see more of that in wrestling.
And so Superman, as Cena is sometimes called, turned good again. On August 1, he said his time as a bad guy sucked, and he'd go back to being the star everyone loved.
Some more than others, it seemed. In 2012, Cena started dating Nikki Bella, one-half of the Bella Twins (with her sister Brie). Nikki is now in the WWE Hall of Fame, and she and Cena became a power couple.
They dated for years and got engaged at WrestleMania in 2017, but broke up less than a year later, right before their wedding.
"We had an amazing relationship, but we wanted different lives," Bella said on Maria Menounos' Better Together podcast in 2020. We tried to make it work.
Cena used to be engaged to Nikki Bella, but he's now married to Shay Shariatzadeh.
Bella said they broke up because they disagreed about having children.
Finn Balor shared what Cena is like behind the scenes with Daily Mail Sport.
Even when he was willing to have kids, I could tell he didn't really want to. And that's what pushed me away.
If I force someone to be a father, what if he regrets it later, and then we have this child and this life? I didn't want that.
So Cena went back to wrestling and acting. After being a bodybuilder in the late '90s, he realised wrestling was where he wanted to be.
That's right. After college, Cena became a bodybuilder, competing in local events and working in gyms until his wrestling career took off.
He got praise for his wrestling skills. Not always, though. Fans sometimes criticised him, booing him while "John Cena sucks" echoed during his walk-on song, My Time is Now.
But he climbed the ranks, winning titles and having memorable rivalries with guys like Edge, CM Punk, and Randy Orton, and soon became a household name.
His attitude and character helped, too. He's always willing to help, and he's always there for the fans. He even holds the Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes—650—through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
When I joined WWE, John was at his best, Balor said. He was the top guy, the leader. As a new talent from Japan, he could have seen me as a threat. Instead, he saw me as someone who could help him grow the business.
Cena, who used to be a bodybuilder, has been wrestling part-time to take on acting roles in Hollywood.
Gunther, also a former world champion, will be Cena's final opponent this Saturday.
Cena will end his 23-year career on his own terms at Saturday Night's Main Event.
He always advised in and out of the ring. I thought all top WWE superstars were like that. But 11 years later, I realised not everyone is like that. That was just John being John. I was naive to think everyone would be like John Cena because there's only one John Cena.
He's earned the respect and recognition he has because of how he's acted throughout his career, and I'm grateful for that. I'll try to learn from him and use his example as guidance for how I should act.
In 2006, he was in The Marine, but he changed things up in the mid-2010s by wrestling part-time to pursue acting. Since then, he's been in movies like Daddy's Home, F9, The Suicide Squad, and Barbie, with more to come.
His wrestling and acting have helped him build a net worth of around £60 million, which will likely grow as he seems to be going into Hollywood full-time after wrestling.
Outside the ring and acting, he's now married to Shay Shariatzadeh, his second wife, whom he married in 2020. He seems settled, happy, and ready for his next chapter.
This Saturday, after a tournament to decide who it would be, Gunther gets to be Cena's last opponent. He's also a former world champion and is highly regarded in WWE.
"I won't be at the show," Balor added. We were supposed to be there, but since JD [McDonagh, Balor's tag team partner] is injured, I'll be at home with a cup of tea, watching like I would have 30 years ago as a Cena fan, cheering him on.
I'm looking forward to John versus Gunther. It's going to be an amazing match—a clash of styles and chapters of my life.
And when it's all said and done, after 23 years, the wrestling world will say goodbye to John Cena for good.
John Cena’s final match takes place on Saturday, December 13, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which you can watch for free on WWE’s YouTube channel. Finn Balor will be back in Europe this January during the ‘Road to Royal Rumble’ tour. Get your tickets now from Ticketmaster.
CODY RHODES ADMITS PAT MCAFEE'S RANDY ORTON REVEAL IS A "CONFUSED DISASTER"
Cody Rhodes calls Pat McAfee’s reveal the worst reception ever. Discover the WrestleMania 42 plans and the Ari Emanuel mandate.
From the Gobbledy Gooker’s first appearance to the infamous Katie Vick storyline, and WWE’s efforts to position Roman Reigns as a babyface between 2014 and 2020, fans have often pushed back hard against creative directions. But Cody Rhodes takes it even further, calling Pat McAfee’s reveal as Randy Orton’s mystery caller the most poorly received moment in wrestling history.
“This might be the worst reception wrestling has ever seen,” Cody said on SI Media with Jimmy Traina. “Sure, Gobbledy Gooker was bad, Shockmaster was kind of a funny disaster, but this isn’t just a segment, it’s the entire fanbase. Every group you can think of, hardcore wrestling fans, casual viewers, ‘cinematic’ fans, everyone reacted with a big, confused ‘Huh?’ So yeah, I think this tops them all.”
That said, Rhodes isn’t dismissing the situation entirely. Despite the backlash, he’s not concerned about the WrestleMania 42 night one main event. After all, he’s still one-on-one with Randy Orton inside the ring.
“I have to look on the bright side here,” Cody added. “Pat McAfee is a massive star not just in wrestling circles but across ESPN. His College GameDay stuff is legendary, he’s a fantastic athlete, and he genuinely loves wrestling. He’s stepping in to help our show, and I respect that.”
Still, Rhodes is keenly aware of the widespread criticism, online and beyond. “I once said every wrestler’s glued to their phones. I didn’t mean it literally, but we all know what’s going on out there. Seeing this kind of reaction, I’m thinking back to when I was doing Stardust or getting small breaks early in my career, asking myself, ‘How can we turn this into something?’”
What keeps him confident is who he’s facing: Randy Orton. “Honestly, I think Randy’s at the top of his game. Even before he turned on me, crowds were reacting to him like never before; there was a real respect and love there. After John left, Randy stepped up big, maybe the best he’s ever been. I even watched his match with The Undertaker recently, and he wrestled so differently, you could call it some of his finest work.”
That gives Rhodes faith that the match will deliver from start to finish. “Where does Pat fit into this? I’m honestly excited to get in the ring with him in the mix. When you ask for that spot, you have to stand up and take it. Some guys shy away. John Cena dealt with it for years, and now I’m going through it too.”
Pat McAfee’s role as Orton’s mystery caller was revealed on April 3’s SmackDown, and he’ll be ringside when Orton takes on Cody for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.
The decision to bring McAfee into the storyline reportedly came from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, aiming to boost ticket sales and strengthen WWE’s ties with ESPN. But the move sparked immediate backlash, not only from fans but also from within WWE locker rooms, uneasy about McAfee’s addition to the Rhodes-Orton rivalry.
Interestingly, the original plan included Jelly Roll in Cody’s corner for WrestleMania 42 as well. That setup would have led to a tag match at Backlash: Pat McAfee & Randy Orton versus Jelly Roll & Cody Rhodes. As of last week, that plan was still on the table.
WRESTLEMANIA 42 CARD REVEALED AS WWE DOUBLES DOWN ON LAS VEGAS RETURN
WrestleMania 42 takes over Las Vegas! Discover the latest on Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and the full two-night card.
WrestleMania 42 is just around the corner, and the buzz is getting louder every week as WWE lays out the card for what looks like another epic two-night show.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is expected to host the event, and both RAW and SmackDown have started to reveal the direction things are heading. Not every match has been made official yet, but the latest storylines and some pretty solid backstage news give us a strong idea of what’s coming.
As always, WrestleMania marks the payoff for months of storylines, and this year’s is no exception. You’ve got big championship feuds, old grudges flaring up, and new stars stepping into the spotlight. If it goes the way things are trending, it should be a solid mix of star power and drama, just what you want from the “Showcase of the Immortals.”
Following the hottest TV stories and backstage reporting, here’s what the card looks like it's shaping up to be.
World title matches take centre stage
The Undisputed WWE Championship will headline one night, with Cody Rhodes set to defend against Randy Orton. These two have a history, and lately, Orton’s experience and mean streak have seriously tested Cody. This isn’t just about a title; it’s about legacy, payback, and two careers on the line. It feels like a main event.
The other huge match? CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. People can’t stop talking about this one. Punk brings a rebel attitude, while Reigns just dominates everyone in front of him. Their war of words alone could sell out the stadium. WWE hasn’t made it official, but if this match happens, it might end up being one of those classic WrestleMania showdowns everyone remembers.
Women’s division ready to make headlines
Don’t sleep on the women’s matches this year. Rhea Ripley’s likely to defend her Women’s World Title against Bianca Belair in a showdown between two of WWE’s best. Ripley hits hard, Belair moves like lightning, and when they collide, it’ll be fireworks.
There’s also a strong chance we see IYO SKY put her WWE Women’s Championship on the line against Bayley. The tension inside Damage CTRL has made this feud feel personal. WrestleMania is famous for shocking faction breakups, and this match could deliver another.
Midcard titles and rising stars get their shot
It’s not all about the main events. Expect the Intercontinental Championship to get a spotlight with GUNTHER defending, maybe against Sami Zayn or Chad Gable. GUNTHER has made every big-stage title match count, and he’ll do it again.
The United States Title should get some shine, too. LA Knight is building a lot of momentum, and a match against Logan Paul, who always grabs headlines, feels almost inevitable. That’s the kind of mix of showmanship and in-ring action that fills seats.
Tag teams and show-stealers
The tag team division is looking hot, with The Judgment Day possibly defending their belts against DIY or The New Day. WWE knows how to turn tag matches into all-out spectacles, and this one could get wild if multiple teams get involved.
Spectacle matches and grudge wars
No WrestleMania is complete without some over-the-top attraction matches. Brock Lesnar often delivers those big “can’t-miss” moments, and a clash with Bron Breakker would feel like a passing of the torch. That kind of generational battle fits right into WrestleMania tradition.
Personal feuds are heating up, too. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre have been butting heads on TV, and if they fight, expect something hard-hitting and emotional. Rey Mysterio might also end up in a story about family or mentorship; he has a way of giving WrestleMania that extra bit of heart.
Celebrities and surprises
Of course, it’s not WrestleMania without some jaw-dropping surprises and celebrity involvement. Logan Paul’s star power almost guarantees more mainstream buzz, and there’s still talk that The Rock could show up. You never know who’s going to walk through the curtain, which is half the fun.
All told, WrestleMania 42 looks ready to deliver, packed with big matches, major moments, and the kind of electricity you only get once a year.
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