On the latest episode of his podcast, “My World,” WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett did not hold back his criticism of the finish to John Cena’s final wrestling match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Jarrett called the decision to have Cena lose via submission to Gunther the “single dumbest finish in the history of the business.”
Jarrett argued that having the “face of the industry” tap out in his farewell match undermined consumer confidence and went against the core principles of building a babyface. He specifically took aim at the notion that Cena “going out on his back” was a necessary adherence to wrestling tradition.
“That time-honored tradition… that is the biggest bunch of bullshit I’ve ever heard,” Jarrett said. “It almost goes against the grain of every territory, and really even in through Hulkamania days and the 90s… what do you do to a legend? You protect them. You make up for their shortcomings in the ring… you kind of respect and take care of the integrity of the business.”
Jarrett emphasized that the crowd in Washington, D.C., paid premium prices solely to see Cena, not the undercard or the brand itself.
“The most important or valuable customers that paid, on average, 850 bucks for one guy… they weren’t there to see anything other than John Cena’s last match,” Jarrett stated. “When you have the entire arena chanting the things that they chanted, and them saying, ‘oh yeah, this is the exact desired reaction.’ Maybe it is. Maybe that is the desired action going to… but time-honored tradition bullshit, that that’s silly.”
Jarrett elaborated on why he believes the finish was a mistake, pointing to Cena’s “Never Give Up” mantra as a powerful tool that extends beyond the wrestling ring.
“Why do I think it was the single dumbest finish? Because I think it is a direct slap in the face of the face of our industry. Never give up,” Jarrett explained. “Do you know how impactful it is if I’m in a room full of bankers or TV executives… and I can look them in the face and a non-wrestling fan and say, ‘Do you know who holds the record for the most Make-A-Wish visits in the history of that organization? It’s a professional wrestler. Yes, it’s John Cena.’ His whole mantra, hustle, loyalty, respect… Never give up. And you’re gonna get this bullshit that we got to get heat on a heel in a time-honored tradition? Conrad, it’s the silliest, most ridiculous argument that people are throwing up.”
Jarrett also questioned the effectiveness of the heat generated by the finish, suggesting that the negative reaction was directed more at the company’s creative direction than at Gunther himself.
“Gunther, he got some heat. There’s no doubt about it… But when Hunter came through the curtain… and they booed the shit out of him, it’s almost as if, like, he got that ref heat,” Jarrett said. “And ref heat don’t draw money. It never have and never will… Sure Gunther is going to get some heat, but the real heat out of that match was on creative and that doesn’t draw money.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
