Liv Morgan’s return to WWE programming following her hiatus was marked by one of the most significant moments in modern wrestling history: the end of John Cena’s Intercontinental Championship reign during his highly publicized retirement tour. During her appearance on What’s Your Story?, Morgan discussed the “surreal” nature of being the catalyst for her childhood hero’s defeat, specifically referencing her interference in the John Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio match at Survivor Series in San Diego.
Growing up as a self-described “chain gang soldier” and die-hard John Cena fan, Morgan expressed disbelief that she was chosen for such a pivotal role in his final storyline. “Never thought that I would be the reason he lost the Intercontinental title… it also just being my return and part of his retirement tour, I just was like, wow, this is such a weird, universal, surreal moment,” Morgan told host Stephanie McMahon. She emphasized that the location of the event—San Diego, which is Dominik Mysterio’s hometown—added another layer of significance to the moment, as she returned to help her on-screen love interest secure gold in front of his family and friends.
The on-screen segment involved Morgan returning to interrupt the match, initially feigning an alliance with Cena. She described the spot where she jumped into Cena’s arms, creating a momentary confusion for the audience who thought she might be turning babyface. However, the swerve was immediate and brutal. Morgan provided insight into the execution of the low blow that cost Cena the match, confirming that there was no “magic” or protection involved in the strike. “I kicked him right in the wee wee… I just knew the assignment. It was kick John Cena in the d*ck and hit him with the titles,” she stated bluntly.
Morgan noted that the live audience in San Diego was genuinely confused by her initial actions. “Everyone was like, okay… she’s looking at John Cena weird… And then the face dropped, and they’re like, Oh, she’s gonna do it,” she explained. She described the shift in the arena’s energy as the betrayal unfolded, transitioning from confusion to shock as she cost the “Greatest of All Time” one of his final championships.
Beyond her involvement in his title loss at Survivor Series, Morgan shared her emotional reaction to the ultimate culmination of Cena’s career. She revealed that she was traveling back from a WWE event in Saudi Arabia when Cena wrestled his final match against Gunther. Unable to watch the historic bout live, she viewed the match on an iPad while sitting on the floor of an airport during a layover. The contrast between her villainous on-screen character and her real-life fandom was stark.
“I was on the plane… and I’m sitting on the floor watching it, and I’m just like, sobbing,” she admitted. “My sleeves were wet.”
Morgan offered her own interpretation of the match’s finish, in which Cena submitted to Gunther. She viewed the submission not as a sign of weakness, but as a deliberate, gracious passing of the torch from one era to the next. “He didn’t have to tap. He f**king gave that to Gunther because just time was up,” she analyzed. “I thought it was perfect.”
She credited Cena for his willingness to support the next generation of talent, noting that despite the humiliating nature of the low blow, he was supportive of giving her the spotlight during his farewell tour.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Whats Your Story? With Steph McMahon with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
