“Almost like a WrestleMania”- Backstage atmosphere during John Cena’s final WWE match revealed

The WWE Universe would never forget the night John Cena took the final bow as an in-ring competitor in WWE. The main event of December’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event was memorable, not only because Cena retired from active competition, but also because of the way his career came to an end. The match saw his final opponent, Gunther, make him tap out of the sleeper hold, marking his first submission loss at the prime of his career. In a recent appearance on Cody Rhodes’ ‘What Do We Wanna Talk About?’, The Ring General spoke about the backstage atmosphere during the match. He revealed that things were intense and felt almost as big as a WrestleMania. “That day, it felt intense, almost like a WrestleMania”, said Gunther.Of course, it was the final night of the man known as The Greatest of All Time, so as Gunther rightfully said, it had been a big night on the level of a grand show. While millions were heartbroken, not only to see Cena tap out, but also to see him hang up his boots for good. Gunther had begun to gloat about the fact that he made John Cena tap out in his final WWE match. This led Cena’s rival, AJ Styles, to step up to The Ring General for showing disrespect to The Never Seen 17. A match took place between them on RAW, where Gunther narrowly defeated Styles.Image via WWE.comThe Phenomenal One challenged him to a rematch at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. However, Gunther accepted only after Styles agreed to put his career on the line. He did so, and the two battled each other in one of the most intense showdowns of all time. However, much like he did to Cena, Gunther trapped Styles in the sleeper hold, who passed out and lost the match.This marked the end of AJ Styles’ in-ring career in WWE. The company presented a tribute night for him two weeks later on RAW in his home state of Georgia, where The Undertaker announced that Styles would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026. On the other hand, Gunther has earned the moniker of the ‘Career Killer’ in WWE. So it remains to be seen whose legendary career he might end next in the Stamford-based promotion.Also read: Is Logan Paul quitting WWE? Internet sensation causes stir following latest tweet