Joe Hendry has finally opened up about his attempts to secure a match against John Cena—a bout that the 17-time world champion would only have been able to participate in after his planned retirement in December 2025. Hendry emphasized that he gave it his all without ever crossing any professional boundaries.
On February 4, 2026, Hendry appeared on Busted Open After Dark, reflecting on Cena’s farewell tour and the chances he pursued but ultimately missed.
“I tried, I tried. This is a tough business. You have to be daring, but you also need to respect the rules,” Hendry said.
He also acknowledged that while he was ready to go to great lengths to make the match happen, he was careful not to undermine WWE’s operations or create tension by appearing to work against the company.
“The last thing you want in this industry is to start working against the business, so no matter what I attempted, it didn’t pan out. Like when I put my face on the billboard next to the WWE show in Glasgow—it was just a bit of fun for me and didn’t disrupt anything,” Hendry explained.
He clarified that he never sought to overshadow Cena’s farewell. Even though he never shared the ring with Cena, being part of the final phase of his career was profoundly meaningful to him.
“I felt like I did all I could to show respect. It was John Cena’s retirement tour, so I didn’t want to steal the spotlight, but being involved in the final event was a tremendous honor. I can’t put into words what it meant to be on the roster and witness Cena’s last moments in the locker room. That experience was priceless,” Hendry said.
Though Hendry didn’t get the one-on-one showdown he hoped for, he seems content with how things turned out and values the chance to see Cena’s final WWE appearance firsthand. His deep respect for both the wrestling craft and Cena’s legendary career is clear.
Have you ever wanted to see Joe Hendry face John Cena? What do you think WWE missed by not booking that match? Share your thoughts below.
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Fan Take: This insight into Hendry’s pursuit of a match with Cena highlights the challenges wrestlers face balancing ambition with respect for the business. For WWE fans, it underscores how meaningful final career moments can be, not just for legends like Cena but for the entire roster witnessing the end of an era.
