During the latest episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T spoke extensively about John Cena’s final week as an active competitor. In a tribute filled with admiration, the WWE Hall of Famer highlighted Cena’s selflessness, his unmatched work ethic, and his dedication to elevating the next generation of talent.
Here is everything Booker T had to say about the “Greatest of All Time” as he prepares for his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
On Respect and the Final Test Against Gunther
Booker T began by expressing his deep admiration for Cena’s career and the significance of his final bout against World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
“Respect. Much, much respect to John Cena and what he’s done throughout his career,” Booker said. “For so many people, so many young kids looked up and loved John Cena. So for him to go out, you know, make this last final, you know, ride… do it just one more time in the middle of that square circle against, you know, one of the great, one of the greatest that’s coming up right now… oh man, I’m looking forward to it.”
He viewed the matchup as a fitting challenge for Cena’s farewell.
“I think it’s the ultimate test for John Cena to go out there and take on the guy that’s really staking his claim to what’s going on in today’s wrestling. And that’s Gunther,” Booker stated. “It’s going to be the ultimate test for John Cena to go out here and show this young guy how good the old guy still is. And for me, John Cena, he still has a little left in the tank. He may not be as great as he once was, but he still can be great once.”
On Passing the Torch and Selflessness
When discussing whether Cena should win or lose his final match, Booker T emphasized Cena’s traditional mindset and his focus on the future of the industry rather than personal glory.
“John’s a traditional guy. What this wrestling thing goes… I mean, it really is all about the next generation,” Booker explained. “I don’t think John Cena thinks it’s about him going out there and hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle and, you know, hitting the Attitude Adjustment, and getting the 1-2-3… This right here is really, truly passing the torch to the next generation.”
Booker elaborated on Cena’s motivation, rejecting the idea that financial incentives were driving this final run.
“I don’t think that what John Cena is worried about is a paycheck… I don’t think that’s about money. I think it’s about legacy,” Booker said. “I really do with John Cena, I think it’s about legacy and the way he leave this business. I think John Cena would be the first—he would rather leave this business in a better place than when he came in it.”
On Elevating Younger Talent like Roxanne Perez
Booker T pointed to specific moments during Cena’s retirement tour that demonstrated his commitment to younger stars, specifically mentioning Cena taking a “Pop Rox” from Roxanne Perez.
“It’s a memory, man. That’s a moment for Roxanne. More importantly, but it shows you what John Cena said is, you know, he sees the talent in Roxanne Perez, and be able to shine her, just to give her a little bit of shine… it was huge. It was so huge,” Booker said. “So for me, it just let me know what John Cena is, where his head is, and what he’s thinking about on his way out… This dude has so much more to give to this business. He really does.”
He also praised the decision to feature NXT talent on Saturday Night’s Main Event, noting that Cena understands the value of an opportunity because he was once in their shoes.
“John Cena was one of those kids once upon a time… to have, you know, a pat on the back, say, ‘Man, we’ll give you a shot.’ That means the world to a young kid,” Booker recalled. “It’s just such a cool way. It’s such a classic way to, you know, let the world see what professional wrestling truly is and what it truly can be.”
On Cena’s Star Power and Performance Level
Reflecting on Cena’s early days, Booker T recounted a specific memory from 106 & Park that convinced him Cena was destined for stardom.
“I was on 106 & Park with John Cena, he did a freestyle. And I was, like, blown away. I was like, wait a minute, this guy could really rap,” Booker laughed. “Just something that just blew me right out of the water, because he had no time to think about it, no time to prepare or anything like that… No pressure. Just went up there and knocked it right out of the park, man. So I knew he was gonna be a star. You know, from the beginning I saw WWE grooming John Cena to be the next guy, and I was just glad to be a part of the ride.”
Booker also defended Cena’s ability as a worker, focusing on his storytelling ability over technical moves.
“He’s always been a guy who can perform at a very, very high level. I’ve always given him so much respect for being that guy,” Booker stated. “The guy that can go out there and tell me a story and make the fans feel a certain way, I think John Cena did that because he went out there and fans was like, ‘you suck’ at the beginning of the match, and then at the end of it, they were standing on the edge of their seats. Oh, man, every time, every time… those are the true workers that go out there and do that.”
On The Hardest Job in the Business
Finally, Booker T highlighted the immense sacrifice required to be the “face that runs the place,” applauding Cena for handling the pressure for so long.
“I applaud… a guy like John Cena, who did it for so many years. You know, countless hours, countless hours. You know, totally forsaking his own well being and his… his own life at home,” Booker said. “You just don’t know how important and how hard it really is… I give [him] the utmost credit and respect.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Hall of Fame with Booker T and Brad Gilmore with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
