WWE “Blindsided” by Fan Backlash After John Cena’s Retirement Match Loss to GUNTHER

John Cena’s final WWE match was meant to be a celebration—but what unfolded left WWE officials scrambling to respond.

On December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cena tapped out to GUNTHER via sleeper hold in a shocking end to his legendary career. The crowd at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena didn’t take it lightly—and according to Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, neither did WWE behind the scenes.

Meltzer revealed that WWE was “caught off guard” by the overwhelmingly hostile crowd reaction. While the company often braces for negative heat after controversial booking, this response apparently went beyond internal expectations.

“The one thing that I can say is that even though they may say something different publicly, they were blindsided by that reaction,” Meltzer said. “The idea that we did it, we knew it was going to get heat, it’s just the price we pay. When they’re all chanting and he’s going, ‘Oh, I thought it would be louder’, that was a defence mechanism…. I was told there was no discussion of a reaction.”

Fans in attendance were not shy about voicing their displeasure. During what was supposed to be a post-match tribute to Cena, boos rained down—directed squarely at WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. The scene escalated as fans chanted “You f**ked up” and even “AEW”, hijacking the tribute and making their displeasure crystal clear.

The decision to have Cena tap out—rather than lose in a more traditional or respectful fashion—seems to be at the heart of the backlash. While GUNTHER has been built as a dominant force, many fans expected a more symbolic ending for a 17-time World Champion. Triple H later addressed the decision in a post-show segment, but the damage had already been done.

Did WWE mishandle John Cena’s final match? Should GUNTHER have won differently—or at all? Share your thoughts in the comments below.