John Cena’s Farewell Tour Gets Emotional: The Legend Pays Tribute to Wrestling’s Greatest at Crown Jewel

Here’s the thing about Cena that even his harshest critics have to admit—the man understands the assignment. This wasn’t just about winning or losing (spoiler: he won), it was about creating a moment that wrestling fans would remember long after the final bell. And boy, did he deliver.

The tribute to Bray Wyatt was particularly gut-wrenching. When Cena hit that Sister Abigail and the entire arena lit up with cell phone lights in a spontaneous firefly tribute, even the most cynical wrestling fans probably got a little misty-eyed. It’s moments like these that remind you why professional wrestling, at its core, is about storytelling and human connection.

The Complete List of Cena’s Tribute Moves

Let’s break down every single move Cena busted out because, frankly, it’s impressive as hell:

The Submission Specialists

Cena channeled his inner submission artist with The Accolade (Rusev’s old finisher), the Walls of Jericho (Chris Jericho’s bread and butter), and even attempted the Coquina Clutch that made Samoa Joe famous. For a guy who’s known for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, seeing him work these technical holds was genuinely surprising.

The High-Impact Heroes

The man wasn’t messing around when he busted out Randy Orton’s RKO—a move so perfectly executed that you’d think he’d been practicing it for months. Then there was Kane’s Chokeslam, which honestly looked better than some of Kane’s recent attempts (no disrespect to the Big Red Machine).

The Showstoppers

But the real tear-jerker was that Tombstone Piledriver. When Cena hoisted Styles up for The Undertaker’s most devastating move, the entire arena knew they were witnessing something special. It was the perfect setup for his final Attitude Adjustment, and the symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone—passing the torch while honoring the legends who came before.

AJ Styles Wasn’t Just Along for the Ride

Give credit where it’s due—AJ Styles wasn’t just some passive participant in Cena’s tribute tour. The Phenomenal One fired back with his own arsenal of borrowed moves, including a Sweet Chin Music that would make Shawn Michaels proud and a Scorpion Death Drop that had Sting written all over it.

This wasn’t a one-man show; it was a collaborative effort between two of the best wrestlers of their generation, each trying to outdo the other in honoring wrestling’s rich history. And honestly, watching two veterans at the top of their game pay respect to the legends who paved the way? That’s what wrestling should be about.

The Emotional Weight of Cena’s Retirement Tour

Here’s what gets me about this whole thing—Cena didn’t have to do any of this. He could have easily phoned in his retirement matches, collected his paychecks, and called it a career. Instead, he’s out here putting on absolute clinics and making sure every match feels like an event.

The man is 47 years old, has nothing left to prove, and is busier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox with his Hollywood career. Yet here he is, pulling out all the stops to give wrestling fans the send-off they deserve. Say what you want about his “Superman” booking over the years, but you can’t question his commitment to the business.

What This Means for Wrestling’s Future

This match at Crown Jewel proved something that wrestling fans have been saying for years—when WWE lets wrestlers tell stories organically, magic happens. There were no convoluted storylines, no interference, no cheap finishes. Just two masters of their craft putting on a show and honoring the legends who came before them.

It also sets an impossibly high bar for the rest of Cena’s retirement tour. How do you top a match where you literally paid tribute to 13 different wrestling legends? The pressure is on for WWE creative to come up with something equally special for his remaining matches.

The Bottom Line

Look, we all know John Cena’s retirement tour is going to be an emotional rollercoaster. But if this match at Crown Jewel is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for something truly special. The man isn’t just ending his career—he’s celebrating the entire history of professional wrestling while he does it.

Whether you’re a longtime Cena fan or someone who spent years chanting “Cena Sucks,” you have to respect what he accomplished in Perth. This wasn’t just a wrestling match; it was a love letter to the business that made him a star. And honestly, after watching him honor everyone from The Undertaker to Bray Wyatt in one night, how can you not get emotional about what we’re about to lose?

The clock is ticking on the John Cena era, but if this match proved anything, it’s that the man is going out on his own terms—with class, respect, and one hell of a tribute to the legends who made it all possible.