It’s time for the world to bust out its best tissues and get ready for the emotional journey that will be WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII. We have been waiting for this moment for over a year, but it is now time for John Cena to close his career. A career that has spanned over 2 decades and is responsible for a plethora of amazing moments.
This night is dedicated to John Cena, but he isn’t the only one stepping between the ropes. There are three other matches scheduled showcasing the present and future of World Wrestling Entertainment. It will be a night of emotional goodbyes and great wrestling, at least one hopes so.
When all is said and done, will this be a night worthy of John Cena’s swansong? Let’s start the show and witness The Last Time.
Cody Rhodes vs Oba Femi (3/5)
The WWE and NXT Champion got great reactions from the Washington crowd before this match. The audience was hot to start the night and thankfully kept it up for the duration of the card. This was a crowd worthy of the card they were given.
WWE did a great job of booking an evenly matched contest here. Oba Femi looked like a star in the making as he dominated the first half of the match. He has experience beyond his years and was great with his facial expressions and crowd work.
We knew that we were going to get a slower-paced affair, but Femi and Rhodes kept it interesting the whole way. Great character work from both men. Just as things ramped up, we got the run-in by Drew McIntyre that served its purpose. It’s just a shame that it took away from what could have been an exciting finish.
Bayley vs Sol Ruca (3.5/5)
When John Cena discussed his final match, he dreamed of a card that showcased the young talent WWE has. Show the world the incredible wrestlers that WWE has that are ready to take the next step. This match was the exact type of showcase that he would have wanted.
Bayley and Sol Ruca worked very well together. The veteran presence of Bayley helped to stabilize the contest while Ruca cartwheeled all over the ring. It was awesome to see this type of innovative offense; it’s unique and sets Ruca apart from the rest of the women’s roster.
There was one glaring botch near the beginning of the match, but that was it for the rest of the way. It was a fun back-and-forth contest, showing that Sol Ruca is more than capable of making an impact on the main roster.
Using the ropes and ring apron in the finish was a nice touch. It’s creative and got a great pop from the crowd. Sol Ruca was an upset win, but one that was needed. The crowd loves it, and WWE has a fresh face to bring to the main roster.
AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater (3/5)
This match went 100 miles an hour from the first bell. Everything about it was incredibly entertaining. All four men pulled out every big move they could, and the crowd chanting “This Is Awesome” was more than warranted.
There is a reason why these men are receiving tons of airtime on their respective shows. It was amazing seeing them bump their butts off and pulling off some amazing high-flying moves. Lots of great tag team action here, even though it was more of a tornado tag than your traditional tag match. Seeing the fast pace with zero botches is a testament to how polished each competitor is.
The Styles’ slip on the rope leading into the finish looked planned. WWE wanted to add a bit more drama to the end of the match, and they succeeded. An exciting tag team match that could have gone on for 10 more minutes.
John Cena vs Gunther (4.5/5)
There is no one better at getting the crowd hyped up for a match than John Cena. His entrance was the culmination of 20-plus years, and we all loved it. Seeing WWE legends filing into the ringside area to watch shows how important John Cena’s last match is.
This was never going to be a great wrestling match. Gunther was out to destroy John Cena and work a methodical pace to accomplish that. Cena also doesn’t have much left in the tank, so they were always going to be leaning heavily into the atmosphere. Which the crowd was more than willing to provide.
Gunther’s work with the crowd and constant asking the ref to check on Cena was perfect for the contest. It gave the crowd more time to rain down the hate and build up the tension for John Cena’s eventual comeback. A comeback that led to a more back-and-forth 10 minutes than most had expected. Cena was emptying the tank, giving the world what they wanted. The crowd chants, and the table spot evoked Attitude Era feelings.
The false finish spots that littered the final flurry were perfect. Everything about this match was an honor to the career of one of the best WWE guys in history. The build fits well into the story of John Cena never giving up.
It was a narrative that dominated the final stretches of the match, with the crowd willing John Cena not to give up to the sleeper. Alas, Gunther proved too much, and John Cena tapped out for the first time in 20 years. An emotional ending to the greatest career in wrestling history.
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