Latest news with #AttitudeAdjustment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R-Truth reflects on match with John Cena: ‘He ain't all the way gone'
R-Truth came to Saturday Night's Main Event determined to bring back the old, babyface John Cena. Despite being played for a fool in the match's final moments, Truth still believes there's some good left in wrestling's 'Last Real Champion.' 'Y'all saw it, I almost had him,' said Truth after the match. 'He's right there from coming back. We gotta bring him back before he leaves, before he's gone, before he's done.' Advertisement In the closing moments of Saturday's match, Cena looked ready to blast Truth with the Undisputed WWE Championship. Instead, he hesitated and handed the belt to the referee—seemingly taking the high road. But it was simply a ruse. As the referee turned away, Cena kicked Truth in the groin, setting up the finish. Moments later, Cena put Truth away with an Attitude Adjustment. Despite these shenanigans, Truth believes Cena's hesitation is a positive sign. 'I saw something in his eyes, he had an opportunity to take advantage of me, he didn't do it. So he ain't all the way gone,' said Truth. Though some may call him naive, Truth, 53, delivered an entertaining performance against his childhood hero, the 48-year-old Cena. He entered to Cena's theme music, wearing a bright red shirt styled like Cena's iconic merch. In place of Cena, however, was Truth doing Cena's signature salute pose. A label reading 'Ron'—Truth's real first name—was taped over 'John' in 'John Cena.' Advertisement During the match, Truth, a former NWA World Champion, brought the fight to the 17-time world champion, using Cena's moves against him: the 5-Knuckle Shuffle, the Attitude Adjustment, and the STF. Still, it wasn't enough to snap Cena out of his evil trance. Later in the show, Cena got involved in the World Title match between champion Jey Uso and Logan Paul. Cody Rhodes, WWE's former quarterback, returned to the field of play to intercept Cena and even the odds for Uso, laying the groundwork for a tag team match at WWE's Money in the Bank on June 7. As for Truth, his mission to snap Cena out of his wicked funk doesn't appear to be over. He still doesn't believe Cena's bad-guy act is for real. 'I don't think he really wanna ruin wrestling. This was more than a championship, this is a man's career. This is professional wrestling's legacy. I was that close. I was that close,' said Truth. Advertisement More from
Forbes
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
John Cena Quickly Defeats R-Truth At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
John Cena continues to perform as a heel despite lackluster performances. (Credit: Georgiana ... More Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) R-Truth finally got his chance to face his 'childhood hero' John Cena at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event 2025, but it didn't end well for the former 24/7 Champion. When John Cena announced his retirement tour last year, hardly anyone had Cena vs. R-Truth on their bingo card of potential matches for Cena on his final run as a WWE star. But a joke started by Truth years ago all led to this: Cena vs. Truth in an unlikely battle between two of WWE's longest-tenured superstars. Inside the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Truth's improbable match against his idol ended in quick fashion as Cena blasted Truth with a low blow behind the referee's back and nailed him with an Attitude Adjustment. One, two, three. It was over almost as quickly as it started. Truth, one of WWE's most beloved stars, unsurprisingly had the Tampa crowd firmly behind him even though Tampa is Cena's adopted hometown. Another shocker: Truth nearly eeked out a win with an AA of his own. Then, Cena kicked out and quickly rebounded with a cheap shot and AA that continued Cena's improbable heel run. With the WWE Universe largely in his corner, Truth was a sentimental favorite heading into WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. But of course, a past-his-prime comedic superstar wasn't going to be the one to end Cena's record-breaking 17th world title reign, no matter how bad Cena's run as a heel has been thus far. Sure, Cena continues to be mostly booed after his unlikely heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber back in March. Are those jeers, however, a result of Cena being a good villain or the fans hating a character that simply hasn't clicked? Cena has promised time and time again in his repetitive promos that he is back to 'ruin' wrestling. 'The Champ' hasn't exactly done that yet, however, and as Cena has struggled to get a grasp on his heel gimmick, WWE already began planting seeds at Backlash earlier this month hinting at Cena turning back to the babyface side. In the long term, Cena could and should end his career as a beloved fan favorite because, well, this heel shtick simply isn't cutting it. But at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, the creative took another step forward with heel Cena, this time with the Undisputed Champion once again using an underhanded tactic to secure the victory. Indeed, that was the second time in just a few weeks that Cena made quick work of Truth. The first came in memorable fashion at the Backlash post-show press conference, where Cena sent Truth crashing through a table with a massive Attitude Adjustment finisher. Ironically enough, Cena beat Truth the same way at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, only this time without a table involved. It was the exact type of cheap victory fans expected of Cena, who is widely expected to resume his feud with Cody Rhodes and likely drop the WWE title back to 'The American Nightmare' in the not-so-distant future. At this stage of his career as time is running out, Cena really doesn't need to be involved in the world title picture, and in fact, losing that title could be what propels him back to being a fan favorite. At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in Tampa, the time wasn't right for Cena to lose. Of course, neither was the opponent. There is, however, no shortage of potential rivals for Cena to ultimately drop his title to on a major pay-per-view stage. Whether that's Rhodes, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns or a rising star, Cena should be on borrowed time as world champion, and WWE should make a genuine effort to book something more compelling for Cena going forward. A one-off match with Truth was relatively harmless, but with WWE Saturday Night Main event in the rearview mirror, WWE's next step should be to book Cena in a rivalry that truly matters.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Top 5 John Cena WrestleMania matches that defined his WWE legacy
John Cena's most memorable WrestleMania matches define an entire generation of WWE. After more than two decades as the face of the company, Cena is wrapping things up at WrestleMania 41 against Cody Rhodes. It's his final shot to claim that record-breaking 17th world title. But before we get there, let's rewind. From epic title wins to unexpected losses, here are the WrestleMania matches that made Cena the legend he is today. WrestleMania 20: John Cena vs. Big Show for the WWE United States Championship (2004) FULL MATCH — Big Show vs. John Cena — U.S. Title Match: WrestleMania XX Cena's first WrestleMania match was messy, but iconic. Facing Big Show at Madison Square Garden, Cena pulled off a huge moment. Literally. He lifted the 500-pound giant onto his shoulders, dropped him with the F-U (now Attitude Adjustment), and snagged the WWE United States Championship. Sure, he used brass knuckles, but who cares? This moment marked Cena's rise as a legit star, and it set the stage for the next decade. Not perfect wrestling, but unforgettable for Cena fans. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo WrestleMania 21: John Cena vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) for the WWE Championship (2005) FULL MATCH - John Cena vs. John 'Bradshaw' Layfield – WWE Championship Match: WrestleMania 21 The match wasn't thrilling, but the outcome changed WWE history. JBL had been WWE Champion for 280 days, and the crowd hated him. Cena stepped up, and the match itself? It was short, not flashy, just straightforward. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment, pinned JBL, and became WWE Champion for the first time. No fancy moves, no complicated spots, just Cena becoming the face of the company. This victory started the Cena era in WWE. WrestleMania 22: John Cena vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship (2006) Story of John Cena vs. Triple H | WrestleMania 22 This was Cena's big test. Triple H, one of the greatest heels in wrestling history, had the Chicago crowd firmly on his side. Cena entered as the champion but faced a hostile arena chanting "You can't wrestle!" Instead of crumbling, Cena stepped up, wrestled a solid match, and forced Triple H to tap out with the STF. Cena retained his WWE Championship and proved that he belonged in WWE's main event scene. It wasn't flashy, but it mattered—Cena was here to stay, and the crowd just had to deal with it. WrestleMania 23: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship (2007) FULL MATCH: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels – WWE Title Match: WrestleMania 23 Easily Cena's best in-ring WrestleMania match, and it's all thanks to Shawn Michaels. Known as "Mr. WrestleMania," Michaels pulled the best out of Cena. They wrestled for nearly half an hour, zero fluff, just pure wrestling and storytelling. Cena locked in the STF again, forcing Michaels to submit. Fans may not have liked Cena, but after this match, they had to respect him. It was Cena at his wrestling peak—no nonsense, no controversy, just the best match of his career. WrestleMania 28: John Cena vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson – Once in a Lifetime (2012) FULL MATCH - The Rock vs. John Cena: WrestleMania XXVIII Cena versus The Rock felt unreal, even though it had been hyped for an entire year. The Rock, returning to his hometown Miami, hadn't wrestled a singles match in nearly a decade. Cena was WWE's full-time megastar. The atmosphere was unmatched—fans divided, noise off the charts. The match delivered huge spots, both stars trading finishers, until Cena got cocky and attempted a mocking People's Elbow. Rock caught him, nailed a Rock Bottom, and Cena lost clean. It was Cena's biggest loss, shocking everyone who expected WWE's poster boy to win. Sure, they did a rematch the next year, but nothing topped this night—when Cena, for once, was truly humbled. Cena's WrestleMania legacy is a wild ride. Wins, losses, unforgettable moments. Love him or hate him, these matches made Cena the defining WWE superstar of his era. Now, let's see if he has one more legendary moment left at WrestleMania 41.
