Cody Rhodes has reflected on John Cena's final match.
The American Nightmare remained at the ringside at Saturday Night's Main Event long after every other talent had left the arena. A visibly emotional Rhodes was approached by Jackie Redmond at the SNME post show when he was still trying to come to terms with Cena's retirement, looking at the boots left by him in the ring.
The Undisputed WWE Champion was asked what the night meant for him. At first, he had trouble forming his thoughts but Cody went on to explain how it was a special night where even the fans did not want to chant 'Cena Sucks' like they've always done:
"It's really hard to describe in a sense, of all the positives that he brought to our industry and leaving it better than he found it. Wrestling is...there's a way it ends, you know? And he did everything right, by the book. It's just still like, when it's that good, you don't want it to end. I know that's vague, but he did everything by the book, and taught so many people and set such a high standard, such a high bar.
I'm not trying to get emotional on his night, but more than anything, just, you know, take a moment and think about those sneakers and, the Pump UPS before that, and the man who filled those and what he was able to do. Through good times, through bad times. Tonight, everyone just chanting, 'Let's go Cena.' Not 'Let's go Cena, Cena sucks' in the house. Just, 'Let's go Cena.' It's just, it's everything."
Can Only Hope To Have Something Like That: Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes said that there will never be another John Cena who did things his own way. The AEW co-founder explained that the 17-time world champion left a very high bar to shoot for stars to come and claimed that he was honored to be part of this night:
"I'm so happy it happened. It's a great, great arena with great wrestling history, and I'm so sad it happened too, right? You know, Triple H had called me and asked me if I would be part of Saturday Night's Main Event. And always, wrestlers act like 'Oh, that's such a big ask.' Are you kidding? To be part of John Cena's final show, to be able to bask in this glory and this house? There's a number, I'm sure Triple H is reading it right now somewhere. The amount of sellouts, the amount of things John did.
I know that sounds really material, but John led with his heart, and John also led with his mind. He was a businessman, and he was trained by businessmen, and he trained us to be businessmen. So for [him] to go out here where you got 19,000 people, whatever it was, and not a soul leaves until he leaves. That's a sign of a not a good career, a great career. We can only hope to have something like that. Really hats off to the greatest of all time."
