John Cena has retired from the WWE and remains one of the biggest stars to have ever stepped in the ring. You’d think that his status as a certified legend in the business would save him from trouble, but that wasn’t the case at Crown Jewel 2025.
WWE finally caved in and listened to its fans and gave them what they wanted to see: a final match between Cena and AJ Styles. Both stars seemed incredibly excited to be sharing the ring across from one another even before the bell rang. However, before the action started, Cena would hand the announcer a personally written note before she introduced Styles.
This intro included references to Styles’ past in TNA and as a leader of the Bullet Club. The Phenomenal One spoke about this special moment with the Undertaker on the Six Feet Under podcast. He revealed that Cena told him that he got in some trouble backstage after going off-script with this moment.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
He said, ‘I got into a little trouble for that, and I was like, ‘You’re John Cena, what are they gonna do?’ So yeah, I’m like, ‘John got into trouble; what does that mean? I don’t know,” he said.
Cena Gave AJ Styles A Special Moment
John Cena’s retirement tour was largely a mixed bag due to an underwhelming heel run and questionable decisions. However, it certainly did have its moments. One of them is a showdown between the Never Seen 17 and the Phenomenal One, AJ Styles.
Cena holds enormous respect for Styles, who’s one of the best in-ring performers to ever step foot inside a WWE ring. It’s clear that the Cenation Leader sees him as a close friend and was willing to get in trouble for him with a special intro he wrote by himself.
The 17-time WWE Champion even spoke about this moment himself during an appearance on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet. He stated that he went about it the wrong way by going into business for himself and didn’t seek permission beforehand. It certainly speaks volumes that even a huge star such as Cena could get heat for not coordinating properly with the management about his wishes.
The Two WWE Icons Put On A Clinic
The WWE Universe had been deeply hoping to see a final encounter between John Cena and AJ Styles. Their wishes were heard, and it was announced that the two would clash in the ring one last time at Crown Jewel 2025.
Fans had high expectations for the match, considering the two stars’ track record against one another in the ring. It’s fair to say they didn’t disappoint and put on another clinic, paying homage to their previous opponents with their special moves. This match might’ve been the biggest highlight from Cena’s retirement tour.
Published: Jan 7, 2026 03:34 pm