WWE Drops Retro John Cena Shirt That Roasts Today’s Internet Fans—“If Cena Wins, We Complain Online”
John Cena has always been a master at walking the line between hero and villain — and now, he’s doing it again without even stepping into the ring. WWE just dropped a brand-new John Cena T-shirt that’s got the entire Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) buzzing (and laughing, depending on which side you’re on).
The shirt, released on WWE Shop, reads:
“If Cena Wins, We Complain Online.”
It’s a clever throwback to one of the most iconic fan moments in wrestling history — the infamous “If Cena Wins, We Riot” sign from ECW One Night Stand 2006, when John Cena defended the WWE Championship against ECW legend Rob Van Dam in front of one of the most hostile and passionate crowds he’d ever faced.
Years later, Cena paid homage to that moment by wearing a shirt that read, “If Cena Wins, We Complain Online,” during a 2013 WWE live event at Madison Square Garden. At the time, the shirt wasn’t available for purchase through the official WWE Shop, making it somewhat of a cult favorite among die-hard fans.
Now, WWE has officially released the shirt — and it’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and modern-day trolling. It nods to the old-school fans who once threatened to riot if Cena won, while throwing playful shade at today’s era of wrestling fans who simply take their frustrations to social media instead.
Cena’s Farewell Run Nears Its End
The new merch drop comes as Cena enters the home stretch of his 2025 WWE Retirement Tour — with only four appearances left before his final match on December 13, 2025, at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C.
This farewell run has been nothing short of legendary. Cena not only main evented WrestleMania 41, but also won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes — marking his record-breaking 17th world title reign — before dropping it back to Rhodes at SummerSlam.
Since then, he’s battled some of WWE’s biggest names — Logan Paul, Sami Zayn, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles, and CM Punk, to name a few — in what has felt like a victory lap across every major market. WWE has leaned heavily into Cena’s farewell momentum, creating exclusive city-specific merch for each stop of his tour, much like The Rolling Stones or Taylor Swift would do.
As of now, Cena’s final opponent remains one of WWE’s most tightly guarded secrets. Speculation ranges from a dream rematch with Brock Lesnar to a symbolic clash with Gunther — or even a full-circle face-off with a longtime rival like Randy Orton. Triple H and WWE Creative are keeping that detail locked away tighter than the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
This is classic Cena — equal parts nostalgia, humor, and self-awareness. The shirt not only pokes fun at wrestling’s internet echo chamber but also cements Cena’s understanding of his place in the culture. He’s leaned into fan criticism, owned it, and turned it into part of his legend.
From the “Let’s Go Cena / Cena Sucks” chants to this latest merchandise troll, John Cena has evolved from the polarizing face of WWE into a generational icon who gets the joke — and plays it better than anyone. As his retirement nears, it’s clear WWE is treating every moment like an event, and this shirt perfectly captures that spirit.
