17-time WWE Champion John Cena sat down with Cody Rhodes on his latest What Do You Want To Talk About? podcast, speaking for the first time since his retirement match against Gunther in the main event of the December 13 Saturday Night’s Main Event special.
Cena tapped out to Gunther in his final match.
On how he envisioned his retirement from the ring:
“I envisioned something beautiful. Saturday far exceeded whatever was in my heart and soul. So I know I’m out there one last time. They had to move the side ramps in to put more seats. It almost was like a fire hazard to go down the ramp. You cannot fit anymore — I know it’s an old wrestler’s story but I’m setting the stage for why I was so filled with joy. You can’t fit anymore people in there. “Going up to this event, I made sure everyone I talked to, all of the podcasts I did, I’m like, ‘Hey, I know you may not think I’m going to retire — I am. I’m comfortable with that. Please just get the closure you need.’ So now I’m out there. They hate the guy I’m working with. They universally cheer me, that is f—— rare. And for the last five minutes, everything I preach about story and drama and having a conversation with the audience. The ones I love are in the front row. I know my colleagues are watching on the monitor back there. We’re just in a sleeper hold, man. We’re just in a sleeper hold. But we’re having that conversation with the audience.”
On what was seen as controversial and disappointing finish by tapping out:
“So as I essentially take my last breath, I have struggled. If you think of somebody — the natural causes scenario or however we picture loss in our life. All of us have been through it. They struggle, they struggle, they struggle, they hang on just long enough to make sure to say goodbye to everybody that’s been meaningful in their lives. And that whole day was so many unbelievably vulnerable, meaningful conversations. And then you realize, I’ve connected with everybody I love. Physically, I feel great. I think it’s time to take that last breath. And that’s that — I hate to keep going back morbidly to obituaries, but this person died peacefully. And knowing that like, man, we are in a good place. We’re going to be great going forward. The bottom of the T-shirt says, ‘I gave everything, thank you for everything.’ And that one moment — that was that, going peacefully.”
You can watch the full interview below:
Quotes are courtesy of F4WOnline.