John Cena didn’t want a whole ‘tribute show’ for his WWE retirement next month

WWE icon John Cena has explained why he turned down the idea of an entire “tribute show” dedicated to his career.

John Cena didn’t want an entire “tribute show” for his WWE retirement.

The 48-year-old wrestling legend turned Hollywood actor will end his WWE career on December 13 with his final ever match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and the show will highlight the superstars of the future, with talent from the company’s developmental brand NXT getting to face the best of Raw and SmackDown.

Speaking on this week’s Raw Recap podcast, John said: “I really want to take my hats off to Triple H, I called him up, I said, ‘I got an idea.

“‘We got to do two hours for the tribute show, and if you do a whole John Cena tribute, two things are going to happen. You’re either going to do too much or too little.

“‘You’re never going to please everybody. I would like to propose that we have big name WWE Superstars fight in exhibition matches versus the brightest in NXT so that way we have a sold out building.’ “

The 17-time world champion – who also currently holds the Intercontinental Title – insisted his retirement show will be a peek into the future for wrestling fans.

He added: “Hopefully the world’s watching on Saturday Night’s Main Event.

“I get to wrestle one final time, but in doing that, everyone also gets to look at what to look forward to. And I think that’s the most important thing.

“Yes, it’s that’s my last match, but collectively we’re all just kind of closing a chapter of an era in sports entertainment. I want people to be able to look forward to what’s next.”

His final opponent is being decided by WWE’s ongoing The Last Time Is Now tournament, which features the likes of GUNTHER, Solo Sikoa, LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes and Bronson Reed.

Reflecting on the idea behind the tournament and his last show, John said: “Forever, the tradition has been your last match, you go out on your back [losing] and you do the honours and that’s it.

“No, I think we can do more. We can take the eyes that care about showing up to our show and expose them to the future and what’s next.

“I love The Time Is Now tournament, that we have some way to earn the chance to be to qualify as my last opponent.”