John Cena Claps Back at His Father’s Critique of Gunther as His Final Opponent
John Cena isn’t letting anyone—family included—rewrite the ending of his story. On Friday’s Joe Rogan Experience, the 17-time world champion addressed comments from John Cena Sr., who publicly panned the idea of Gunther being Cena’s final opponent at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
What Cena Sr. Said
A longtime figure around the business—as a commentator, promoter, and former MWF owner—Cena Sr. told the All Axxess podcast he didn’t believe Gunther was the right choice and pushed back on the idea that a retiring star should “pass the torch” on the way out. He argued Gunther “does not need the rub” and suggested Cena already handed it off when Cody Rhodes beat him for the Undisputed title at SummerSlam.
The stage is set for One Last Match. On a night of epic proportions, it is an honor to face off against an opponent who I respect and who has earned the right to issue this final challenge! I will bring my best, I know he will do the same! Don’t miss the Final Time! #SNME… https://t.co/me4UnjGAkN
— John Cena (@JohnCena) December 6, 2025
Cena’s Response on JRE
Never one to second-guess creative in public, Cena gave a blunt, good-humored rebuttal. Paraphrasing: Dad’s gonna say wild stuff, and fans will listen because he’s part of the wrestling zeitgeist—but that doesn’t mean he’s right. Cena said he loves his father, even as he wonders why he’d stir the pot days before the final match. The message between the lines: the match is booked, and Cena’s focused on making it matter.
Why Gunther Makes Sense
Whether you love or loathe “doing business on the way out,” Gunther is the definitive final-boss heel of the modern era: clinical, punishing, and credible enough to threaten the unthinkable—making John Cena submit. As Cena closes the book, this pairing feels less about torch-passing and more about legacy-proofing: a ruthless Ring General vs. the unbreakable backbone of the era.
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Family opinions aside, this angle sings because it’s simple and honest. Cena Sr. voices the fan anxiety (no one wants to watch their hero lose), while Cena doubles down on the pro’s code: show up, elevate, deliver. If the finish is clean and cruel—Gunther strangling the space and hunting the neck—it cements the Ring General as the era’s apex predator and frames Cena’s last stand as noble, not naïve. If Cena guts out the escape and steals a final miracle? That’s the montage we’ll show our kids. Either way, the discourse just turned the volume up to 11 for Saturday.
