John Cena wrestled his first WWE match in Boston on July 2002.
Twenty-three years later, he wrestled his final, saying farewell to a packed home at WWE’s Monday Evening Uncooked on the TD Backyard.
“I had one final request,” stated Cena, who plans to wrestle his last match on Dec. 13. “I wished to return to Boston one final time.”
With solely three dates remaining in his WWE profession, Cena is wrapping up an illustrious run in skilled wrestling. A local of West Newbury, he has grow to be an business legend, standing on wrestling’s Mount Rushmore beside Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and The Rock.
Cena’s relationship with wrestling followers was no summer season romance, however moderately a long-lasting marriage. There have been ups and downs – he was cheered, booed, and elicited almost each different response possible. But folks had been by no means detached towards Cena, who all the time knew methods to generate a response from these within the crowd, particularly again residence in Boston.
“We’ve been to Brussels, we’ve been to London, we went to Perth – I simply wished to return to Boston,” stated Cena, rattling off his journey itinerary over the previous six months. “I noticed my first WWF present within the previous Backyard, and it means all the pieces to me to face in TD Backyard and really feel the magic within the air.”
John Cena Sr., who’s Cena’s father, beamed with delight as he took within the motion on the Backyard. A faithful professional wrestling fan, Cena Sr. instilled the identical ardour inside his 4 sons.
“The one purpose we had cable TV again when the boys had been younger was to look at skilled wrestling and convey [announcer] Gordon Solie into our home,” stated Cena Sr., 81. “Professional wrestling was the best way we bonded.”
Along with his father, Cena’s grandfather Felix was additionally a wrestling fan. Naturally, the proud Italian’s favourite was Bruno Sammartino.
“My father obtained sick and by no means obtained an opportunity to look at John wrestle,” stated Cena Sr. “He would’ve beloved to have watched John within the ring. John was additionally very shut with my mom Catherine. However she had a tough time watching him wrestle. I can nonetheless hear her saying throughout one in all his matches, ‘Inform them to cease hurting him!’ Then she’d flip to me and say, ‘Inform me he’s all proper!’”
Cena’s fame far exceeds what he has completed in WWE. His wrestling success helped catapult his appearing profession – the second season of Peacemaker simply aired on HBO – and he continues to search out new methods to offer again. Cena has set the usual for particular person visits with the Make-A-Want Basis, which is a long-lasting a part of his legacy.
“I’m rattling pleased with my son,” stated Cena Sr. “He left wrestling higher than he discovered it.”
Cena, 48, additionally performed an instrumental position over the previous twenty years within the WWE locker room. When fellow wrestler TJ Wilson suffered a career-ending spinal wire damage in 2015, it was Cena who helped maintain Wilson’s spirits up throughout the bleakest of instances.
“John is an efficient buddy and an important individual,” stated Natalya Neidhart, who’s Wilson’s spouse. “When TJ obtained injured, John was the one who took the time to succeed in out. When TJ was recovering, John would name and speak with him. He’d even take us out for dinner. The damage was very emotional and traumatic, however John made TJ felt heard.”
Neidhart was on the Kowloon in Saugus Monday signing copies of her new e-book, The Final Hart Beating. And he or she is keen to see how Cena wraps up a one-of-a-kind profession.
“What he does within the ring is unimaginable,” stated Neidhart. “The viewers nonetheless connects with him.”
Over the previous yr, Bronson Rechsteiner has additionally constructed a relationship with John Cena. Poised to grow to be WWE’s subsequent breakout star, Rechsteiner – who wrestles as Bron Breakker – is grateful for the recommendation Cena goes out of his method to provide.
“It’s been an honor to study from him,” stated Rechsteiner. “He’s a top quality human being, and he makes himself approachable. We’ve developed an open line of communication, and I can’t say sufficient about him.”
Wrestling Cena earlier than he retires is a chance Rechsteiner would relish.
“There aren’t too many possibilities left, so it wouldn’t be one thing I might take flippantly,” stated Rechsteiner. “If I get that likelihood, I’ll be prepared.”
Staking his declare as the best to ever carry out within the ring, Cena wrestled Dom Mysterio in Boston to open Uncooked. He received the match, successful the Intercontinental Championship – finishing a “Grand Slam” of WWE championships – and did so with a aptitude not like every other. In a celebration crammed with pyro and euphoria, Cena wrapped a belt round his waist one final time.
After which he was gone.
“To lookup on the rafters and see the banners on this constructing, surrounded by mates, household, and family members,” stated Cena. “I can stand on this ring and say thanks.”
