John Cena retains Undisputed WWE Championship at Backlash

Originally posted on F4WOnline.com | By Joseph Currier | Last updated May 10, 2025 10:45 PM ET

John Cena is still Undisputed WWE Champion after escaping Backlash with a victory over his longtime rival Randy Orton.

At Saturday night’s PLE, Cena and Orton faced off one last time as part of Cena’s retirement tour. This final meeting had a different dynamic than all of their previous matches with Orton — the beloved babyface in his hometown of St. Louis — challenging Cena for gold. But a low blow and a belt shot secured the win for Cena to remain Undisputed WWE Champion.

The match lasted nearly 30 minutes and was full of finishing moves and ref bumps. Whenever Orton had the title won, the referee was knocked out and unable to count the pin in time. Orton let his frustration out at one point by RKOing SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis and other officials as they were checking on a referee. He then went to punt Cena in the head, but R-Truth — who claims Cena is his “childhood hero” — ran out to plead with Orton.

R-Truth couldn't let that happen! #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/JSYZsrTrcQ
— WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2025

Orton dropped Truth with an RKO, but that gave Cena time to low blow Orton and strike him with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. The referee woke up and counted the pin for Cena.

After the match, Cena got on the microphone for a quick promo:

The LAST REAL CHAMPION has left the ring.#WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/7rMdUzfZCp
— WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2025

“Cut the damn music. I don’t need music, what I need is competition. And I sure as hell don’t need you,” he said to the fans. “Drink it in, St. Louis — because this is what the Last Real Champion looks like.”

This was the first title defense of Cena’s 17th WWE Championship reign. He is set to retire as an in-ring competitor in December of this year.

Source

This article first appeared on F4WOnline.com and was syndicated with permission.

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