Fans erupt as Cena farewell turns into Triple H backlash storm
A night designed to honour one of WWE’s most iconic figures ended in controversy as John Cena’s final match drew an unexpected reaction from the crowd in Washington, D.C.
According to reporting by SPORTbible, Cena’s farewell bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event became overshadowed by loud boos directed at WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, shifting the focus away from the retiring superstar and onto WWE’s creative direction.
Cena closes the curtain on a historic career
John Cena wrestled his final match on Saturday Night’s Main Event, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than two decades. The 17 time world champion was defeated by Gunther via submission, tapping out to a sleeper hold in the centre of the ring.
After the bell, Cena left his wristbands and shoes behind, a symbolic gesture often used to signal retirement. According to SPORTbible, the match marked the 36th and final appearance of his retirement tour, played out in front of a sold out arena.
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Cena later received a backstage send off from fellow WWE performers, underlining the significance of his departure from in ring competition.
Crowd reaction shifts attention to Triple H
As the tribute continued, sections of the crowd began directing their anger toward Triple H, who currently oversees WWE’s creative output. Boos grew louder when he appeared and later addressed the audience after the show.
Multiple reports indicated that the decision for Cena to lose his final match was one he personally supported, in keeping with long standing wrestling traditions. Despite this, fans appeared to place responsibility on WWE’s leadership rather than the retiring star.
According to SPORTbible, online reaction quickly followed, with many fans accusing Triple H of mishandling what they viewed as a once in a generation farewell moment.
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Vince Russo questions the wider meaning of the backlash
Former WWE writer Vince Russo suggested the hostile response could signal deeper issues. Speaking on the Coach and Bro Show, he framed the reaction as more than frustration over a single match result.
“I’m gonna make a bold prediction. I think that marked the beginning of the end for Triple H,” Russo said.
He added that the boos reflected dissatisfaction built up over time rather than an emotional response to Cena’s defeat, pointing to what he described as growing discontent with WWE’s creative direction over the past year.
Cena legacy debate reignites among fans
Russo also criticised the decision for Cena to tap out, arguing it conflicted with the wrestler’s long associated “Never Give Up” message. He claimed the ending risked undermining the inspirational image Cena cultivated throughout his career, particularly among younger fans.
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Cena later addressed supporters directly, thanking them for their loyalty and support over the years. He has since been confirmed as a WWE ambassador and shared a symbolic farewell post on Instagram reflecting on his final moment.
According to SPORTbible, WWE has been contacted for comment regarding the fan reaction and creative decisions surrounding Cena’s last match.
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