John Cena’s legendary WWE career is set to come to an end this December at Saturday Night’s Main Event. As the wrestling icon prepares for his final match, a notable wrestling veteran has revealed an intriguing behind-the-scenes story about how Chris Jericho once fought to save Cena’s career in WWE.
Back in 2005, John Cena was moved to Monday Night RAW holding the WWE Championship, quickly becoming the face of the company and the flagship red brand for over a decade. However, according to Scott D’Amore—former TNA Wrestling president and podcast host of The D’Amore Drop—there was a period when WWE management was uncertain about Cena’s potential.
D’Amore shared that during Cena’s early WWE days, the creative team considered sending him back to OVW for further development because his initial “Thug/Rapper” gimmick wasn’t gaining traction with the audience. At this critical juncture, Chris Jericho reportedly stepped up and fiercely advocated for Cena, fighting directly with Vince McMahon for him to be given a real chance on the main roster.
“I don’t think it’s widely known how hard Jericho fought for Cena at the time,” D’Amore revealed. “Jericho had been booked to beat Cena, and there was talk that ‘The Prototype’ wasn’t ready and needed to be sent back to OVW for more training. When I say Jericho ‘fought’ for Cena to be given a real chance, I mean he got into a raised-voice argument with Vince McMahon — that’s how strongly he believed John had something and was ready. He continued to advocate for Cena, pushing really hard that if only he had some mic time, the thug/rapper gimmick would get over.”
Given D’Amore’s extensive two-decade experience in the wrestling industry, his claims add an interesting layer to Cena’s early struggles and the support he received from fellow superstars.
### Who Is John Cena’s Final WWE Opponent?
As Cena’s illustrious wrestling career draws to a close in less than eight weeks, fans are eagerly awaiting his final match. The veteran superstar is scheduled to perform for the last time in Washington, D.C., at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Although Cena’s retirement run has not fully lived up to expectations, the 17-time WWE World Champion has still delivered some of the most memorable matches on major live event cards. According to multiple reports, Gunther is slated to be Cena’s final-ever WWE opponent.
Gunther, often referred to as “The Ring General,” was also chosen to be Goldberg’s last opponent in July 2025. It appears the current creative regime led by Triple H intends for the two-time World Heavyweight Champion to give John Cena a fitting and respectful send-off in December 2025.
With such a notable opponent and a storied career coming to an end, Cena’s final chapter in WWE promises to be unforgettable for fans worldwide.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-multi-time-wwe-world-champion-fought-save-john-cena-s-career-according-wrestling-veteran
