Seth Rollins Defends Cena’s Final Match – Seth Rollins has publicly come to the defense of John Cena following the controversial finish to Cena’s retirement match against Gunther. The bout took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, where Cena tapped out, a result that immediately divided fans. Many viewers questioned whether the longtime “Never Give Up” figure should have gone out differently in his final appearance.
Speaking on the Ross Tucker Podcast, Rollins explained why he believes the finish was appropriate and meaningful. Rather than viewing the tap-out as Cena abandoning his core message, Rollins framed it as a symbolic ending that fit the larger story of Cena’s career.
“I have so many mixed feelings on it,” Rollins said. “John is one of the greatest of all time. His whole thing is ‘never give up.’ People were all over him for giving up, for tapping out, but it didn’t feel like he was giving it up. It felt like he was fading off into the sunset.”
Rollins emphasized that Cena’s final match was never about protecting himself. Instead, he believes Cena achieved exactly what he intended by helping elevate Gunther in such a decisive way. According to Rollins, the outcome reinforced Gunther’s position at the top while allowing Cena to close his chapter without bitterness.
“He had done his job, he was happy to do it, and he was handing the ball off,” Rollins said. “That’s how I felt about it. I might be in the minority on that.”
Rollins also pointed to one specific detail that stood out to him the most.
“At the end of the day, he smiled before he did it, and there is something poetic to that,” he added. “I love John. It’s hard for me to second-guess anything he does.”
Becky Lynch, who also appeared on the podcast, shared a more emotional response to the moment but acknowledged the contrast in her reaction.
“He smiled, and I cried,” Lynch said.
Cena’s retirement officially closes the book on one of the most influential careers in WWE history. After more than 20 years as the face of the company, the 17-time World Champion has stepped away at the age of 48. While debate over his final match may continue, Rollins’ comments highlight the respect many within WWE have for how Cena chose to end his run.
Seth Rollins Defends Cena’s Final Match
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