PWI Weekly for December 15, 2025
The Last Time Is Now: A John Cena Special
WE DON’T NEED TO give you a long introduction about what John Cena has meant to the wrestling industry. To say the least: When you put together a WWE Mount Rushmore, his place on there should be a certainty. Thanks for everything, John.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
In the end, it was never really going to matter whether he beat Gunther or not. Saturday Night’s Main Event was always going to be about seeing John Cena do his thing one last time. Whether you were in Washington D.C. live or simply watching at home, Cena’s last match was one that you might someday tell the grandkids about. From the moment he announced that 2025 would be his last year as an active wrestler, Cena flung himself headfirst into a schedule that he hoped would serve as a worthy final chapter to a storied career. As we sit here now, less than 48 hours removed from the final sentence of that chapter, it’s hard to say it—and this past weekend—was anything less than a success.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
Wrestling is not like other sports. Since you are reading the PWI Weekly, we certainly don’t have to tell you that. When it comes football, basketball, auto racing, or most any other competitive sport, it’s often the athlete with the most championship trophies or medals who is heralded as the greatest. In wrestling, things are a little more subjective. But should they be? After all, one cannot last as the champion of a major promotion without being in some way remarkable.
While he will never be named as one of the greatest technicians, John Cena’s career accolades might never be surpassed. In particular, his 17 world title reigns stand far above anyone else. Indeed, if one looks solely at the numbers, then Michael Cole might not have been wrong when he labeled Cena as the greatest of all-time.
MUSINGS, WITH MATT BROCK
I’ll admit it: When John Cena first barged into WWE and slapped Kurt Angle across the face, I didn’t see a kid who was reinventing the wheel. Despite his proclamation that he had “ruthless aggression,” I wasn’t impressed. I’d seen a thousand would-be “future superstars” come and go in my time; and, more often than not, they fizzled out pretty quickly. I figured Cena would do the same. For a while, it appeared I was going to be right. Then, something changed.
I won’t pretend to know much about rap or hip-hop. I like Dean Martin, and, for my money, “Deano” has never been bettered. However, I also understand that there is a world of music and culture out there—one that speaks to people younger than me. John Cena knew that, too. In fact, he was part of it.
That’s why when he started turning up on WWE TV wearing jean shorts, sports jerseys, and chains, he struck a chord with an audience that, up until then, had been roundly apathetic towards him. Before long, the kid from West Newbury, Massachusetts, was creating a genuine connection with the crowd. This wasn’t simply because of his change in dress or the way he spoke. In the ring, he was working as hard as anyone else in the industry.
Cena would show up, night after night, take his beatings, and dish some out. Slowly but surely, he climbed the WWE ladder. Eventually, he reached the top. It was when Cena got there—and, crucially, what he did in the years after—that turned me into a true believer.
I watched as Cena dragged WWE through some lean years, becoming a genuine superstar with mainstream appeal and a genuine connection with younger fans. He did it all with pride and an indefatigable stride in his step. He was visibly proud to represent both his promotion and his industry.
Not since Hulk Hogan had a WWE wrestler embraced what it meant to be the face of the company—and all that comes with it, good and bad. When audiences tired of Cena and began to boo him, the “Champ” never strayed from who he was or what he represented. By then, my initial eye rolls had given way to applause.
I started as a Cena skeptic. Then, I became an admirer. As I type this today, it’s as both a journalist and a fan. Thanks for the memories, John. I don’t know if you reinvented the wheel, but you damn sure made it a lot more interesting. We’re glad we could see you.
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
We could make it easy and pick any number of classic Cena WWE promos to include here. But come on … to do so would be to ignore the genius of The Prototype.