John Cena defends his final defeat to Gunther

John Cena's farewell match in WWE has generated a huge division of opinions among fans, but the protagonist himself is clear that he wouldn't have changed absolutely anything. The legend put an end to his career in the ring, losing to Gunther in WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, surrendering after being trapped in the Austrian's hold.

Since then, many followers have criticized the creative decision, arguing that Cena should have won or, at the very least, not surrendered. Others, on the other hand, believe that the result further strengthened Gunther as a dominant figure. During his appearance at the Fan Expo in New Orleans, Cena directly addressed the controversy.

I guess it's something similar to my career. I think it was a perfect ending, because many people thought it was horrible, many people thought it was special, and that has been my story for 23 years. So I thought it was perfect.

Cena explained that the divided reaction of the audience reflects exactly what his trajectory has been for over two decades: loved by some, criticized by others, but always generating conversation. That duality, according to him, made the ending make sense.

The moment of surrender was also a subject of debate, especially due to Cena's smile while tapping out. At the same event, the sixteen-time world champion delved into his mental state during those final seconds.

"It's always read: 'This person passed away peacefully.' That's how I felt. I faced death with a smile, knowing that we are in a good place and that things will go very well in the future," he explained. "At the bottom of the shirt it said: 'I gave it my all. Thank you for everything.' At that moment, that was it. I left in peace."