John Cena Reveals Why His Favorite Wrestling Moment Involves CM Punk

John Cena wrapped up a shoo-in WWE Hall of Fame career. Although his time in the ring is over, he may be more visible than ever.

During the latest episode of Cody Rhodes’ podcast, Cena was recently asked to reflect on his single favorite moment in wrestling. This is a question that hits differently when “my next one” is no longer an option for the Greatest of All Time.

After that, John Cena ran through the highlights fans would expect like winning his first championship, capturing his 16th world title, stepping into the ring with The Rock, Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Funhouse, and sharing a WrestleMania moment with Cody Rhodes. Then, the GOAT responded with something that some may not have expected.

“I can’t get past Phil Brooks, CM Punk, Saudi Arabia. That might be my favorite moment in wrestling.”

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John Cena then clarified that it wasn’t CM Punk’s match in Saudi Arabia that stayed with him, but the pre-show segment for the match. During that moment, Punk publicly apologized to a Saudi fan in the front row after making past controversial remarks he had made about the country.

“I think what I really cherish most about this… is that it is a universal language. That’s why we have such a global reach. You can watch it with the volume off — you can see anger, and then you can see the match… Maybe it’s just because it’s fresh in my mind. I can’t get past Phil Brooks, CM Punk, Saudi Arabia. I think that might be my favorite moment in wrestling.”

“It wasn’t the match. It was the pre-show promo. I was lucky enough to have a promo with him that night and a match, so I’m attaching myself to that moment. Because I think it’s one of the best moments in wrestling.”

John Cena went on to explain why the moment resonated deeply for him. He saw it as something much larger than wrestling itself.

“There is no shortage of divide. You had someone who — in a moment of frustration and reaction — said some pretty hateful things about a culture. And then you have that culture being like, ‘F*ck you. Not in our house.’ And then you have a man who’s brave enough to walk into the lion’s den…”

“And in the right moment, Phil was accountable for what he said. He gave a good explanation for the why, and what can we do after that? ‘I’m sorry.’ And then you leave it. That’s all you can do. Forgiveness takes time. But that gentleman forgave him — right there — and broke the ice. The forgiveness was infectious.”

“So what I saw was: holy sh*t, wrestling just brought cultures together. Wrestling just brought people with different ideologies together — in an embrace and excitement. Phil went out there… and they forgave him.”

For John Cena, the moment represented everything he values. That growth, accountability, love, and forgiveness meant a lot to him, and he made it clear that no championship or main event could top it.

“I don’t know if there’s a better moment than that. I love growth. I love accountability. I’m an advocate for love and forgiveness. And that hit me in every right place. And that wasn’t even a match. That was a segment on a pre-show.”

The emotional impact didn’t stop there. John Cena revealed that the moment affected him so deeply that it nearly derailed him once the bell rang.

“That pre-show moment struck me so hard. When [Punk] said, ‘I miss you already out there,’ I got weird, bro. My processors fizzled for a second… I rarely get lost in anything — but that one hit me.”

“I was bawling my eyes out, saying, ‘This is the best thing ever.’”

John Cena’s career in WWE broke boundaries and blazed a trail for everyone after him. He certainly left the business better than what he found it, and it made a ton of memories along the way. For Cena, the ones that stand out the most may not be the same for every fan.

We will keep a close eye on what John Cena does next in his career. Although his WWE career is over, that won’t keep him out of the spotlight.

What’s your take on the moment John Cena treasures most? Do you have another Cena memory that you will never forget? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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