During the main event on Saturday Night at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena, John Cena’s career ended after he submitted to Gunther, sparking anger among fans, especially those present at the venue. The crowd loudly expressed their frustration with chants of "Bull****" when Paul "Triple H" Levesque and other wrestlers came out to honor Cena’s career. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray shared on "Busted Open Radio" that the only aspect he would change about Cena’s retirement is Levesque’s entrance. He explained that the boos were directed not at Cena, but at the person who persuaded Cena to tap out, emphasizing that Cena was acting in the best interest of the business and wasn’t forced into the decision. Bully Ray added that while Cena might claim to merely follow directions, he believes Cena needs more creative input to truly reach legendary status.
Bully Ray also noted the frustration of the live audience, feeling their moment with Cena was interrupted. The fans had shared a deep, emotional experience with Cena, and the unexpected celebration disrupted that intimate moment, making it harder for them to accept the outcome. Despite good intentions from others like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, who helped put Cena over as champion, Bully Ray feels the sendoff should have been left untouched. He sympathized with the fans’ distracted emotions and pointed out how society tends to look for someone to blame, in this case, Triple H being the first to appear after the match. Bully Ray wished he could have fully supported Cena but found the interruption distracting.
Fan Take: This moment highlights the passionate connection fans have with John Cena and the emotional weight of his retirement. It underscores how critical it is for WWE to carefully manage landmark moments to preserve fans’ investment and respect for wrestling legends, which ultimately impacts the sport’s legacy and future storytelling.
