WWE was reportedly blindsided by the negative fan reaction to John Cena tapping out to Gunther.
According to F4WOnline.com’s Dave Meltzer on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, many people in WWE were not on the same page with the decision makers about how John Cena’s final match transpired. He also noted that while company officials might say something different in public, they were blindsided by the reaction.
“There are many people in WWE who did not agree with that decision, but the guy in charge did it. The one thing I can say is, even though they may say something different publicly, they were blindsided by that reaction.
“The idea that like we did it, we knew it was going to get heat, just the price we pay. When they were all chanting and (Triple H) went ‘Ah, I thought it’d be louder,’ that was a defense mechanism. I don’t want to say there was no discussion of a reaction, but I was told there was no discussion of a reaction.”
Co-host Bryan Alvarez chimed in, saying WWE might not have received such a negative reaction if John Cena passed out to Gunther’s sleeper hold instead of tapping out.
“Here’s the thing. I don’t think it would have gotten that reaction if John Cena would have just passed out in that sleeper hold. They got that reaction because for 20 years people have been sold on ‘Never Give Up.’”
Amid all the backlash WWE has been facing over the finish of John Cena’s retirement match, the company’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, defended the decision to have Cena go out the way he did.
