Raw Recap with Sam Roberts & Megan Morant

Episode: Thank You John Cena | Final Match reactions and more: Saturday Night’s Main Event Recap

Date: December 14, 2025
Podcast: WWE x Fanatics Podcasts

Overview

This deeply emotional episode centers on the historic night of John Cena’s final WWE match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant provide a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes analysis of Cena’s last stand against Gunther, the implications for WWE’s evolution, reactions from fans and talent, and the emergence of the next generation of Superstars. The episode features live reactions, personal reflections, and interviews (notably with R-Truth and Obafemi), offering listeners an intimate look at WWE’s past, present, and future as a new era dawns.

Emotional Weight of Cena’s Final Night (00:17–16:33)

Cena’s Impact and the Arena Atmosphere

• The hosts recount the electrifying, tearful vibe in the arena, describing both grown men and children weeping as John Cena made his final entrance and wrestled his last match.
• Sam (Host 1): “I was in quiet... That's so funny that you noticed that. That is 100% true. That I was like, okay, I'll get this shot or whatever, but, like, no, I need to live this.” (01:18–01:33)
• Megan (Host 2): “We were just in an arena with crying grown men and children.” (00:54)

Cena’s Farewell Tour and Relationship with Fans

• The “year-long retirement tour” allowed a true celebration and deep appreciation, especially after Cena’s return to being a beloved babyface.
• Sam: “As far as retirements go, there's never been anything like this before, but there's never been anyone like John Cena before.” (01:40)
• The tour let fans rediscover and vocalize their love for Cena, with his “never give up” ethos underscored by crowd chants and visible emotion.

Match Storytelling and the Unhappy Ending

• The emotionally charged match with Gunther was praised for its narrative and how it embraced pro wrestling’s ability to evoke strong feelings, even (or especially) with a “bad guy” going over.
• Sam: “There is something... so incredible about watching people react to the bad guy winning and being unhappy, which is exactly what wrestling is.” (08:42–09:09)
• Megan: “The crowd is chanting, don't give up. Don't give up. I looked to my right, and there was a boy. Tears rolling down his face.” (06:44)
• Hosts reflect on the ending’s beauty, noting how “we didn't get a happy ending, but maybe that's the point.”

Cena’s Legacy and Overcoming the Audience

• Cena’s two decades are framed as a journey of overcoming not just in-ring foes, but fan perception.
• Sam: “John Cena's greatest rivalry over the course of his career has been with us, has been with the fans…if you were in the arena…he did it. He conquered that monster.” (13:05–14:16)
• The final moments—Cena standing in the ring, removing his gear, and saying “I gave you all I had”—are highlighted as raw and authentic farewell expressions.

Notable Quote:
“If it's not a happy ending, then it's not over yet. That's what she's [my daughter]...Isn't that beautiful? Now...Cena ain't coming back.” – Sam (15:36–15:55)

Gunther: The Career Ender & Scene-Setter (10:29–12:04, 16:03–16:24, 46:22–47:23)

• The episode positions Gunther as a “career ruiner” and “the guy who retired Goldberg and John Cena in the same year.”
• Sam: “This is a Gunther who, if he's going to run around beating guys like John Cena in his last match, he just got elevated to unbeatable.” (11:29)
• R-Truth: “Gunther is...one of the most technical wrestlers, man, of our time right now. He has star written all over him...Gunther's all that.” (46:50–47:23)
• Gunther’s actions elevate him into WWE lore (“This is that. I think that 50 years from now—Oh, Gunther. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's the guy that retired John Cena.”)

Tribute to Cena’s Influence on WWE’s Present and Future (21:55–25:46)

• The hosts and R-Truth marvel at how Cena’s mentorship has touched every corner of WWE’s locker room.
• R-Truth: “He’s a walking testimony. He’s living proof of believing in yourself, never giving up, having loyalty to yourself, to the business, to people, and just respecting everything.” (28:56)
• From CM Punk and Kevin Owens to Becky Lynch and generations of new stars, Cena’s “fingerprints are all over everything.”
• The “Cena effect”: Even his final show design includes a focus on setting up new stars, specifically matching NXT talent with main roster names.

R-Truth Interview: Bittersweet Goodbye, Locker Room Bond & Comic Relief (28:03–50:49)

Cena’s Legacy from a Peer’s Perspective (28:03–32:02)

• R-Truth expresses pride in Cena leaving on his own terms and awe at how deeply Cena has impacted both talent and fans.

Notable Quote:
“Nothing lasts forever, and he’s able to do it on his own terms. That’s what makes me happy and proud.” – R-Truth (28:18)

The Locker Room Salute

• Nearly the entire roster wore Cena’s merch at his farewell—a rare sign of universal respect.

Comic Relief: The Nick Aldis “Balls” Saga (31:35–35:40)

• A series of running jokes about Nick Aldis’s “balls” (lottery balls from a tournament segment), the Miz’s shenanigans, and Joe Hendry’s inclusion offer some levity.

R-Truth on His Own Career and the Future

• R-Truth discusses his own approach, longevity, and jokes about being “on deck” for retirement behind AJ and Punk (“We're all on deck. AJ's on deck. I just told Punk, we all on deck.” (44:16))
• He credits booking logic, protective match styles, and fan psychology for his staying power.
• He playfully claims to be John Cena’s “brother from another mother” and jokes about Cena-inspired t-shirts.

Next Generation Spotlight: NXT Stars and Milestone Moments (52:25–73:38)

Cena’s Final Card: Elevating the Future (52:25–53:05)

• Cena designed Saturday Night’s Main Event as a showcase for NXT talent, matching them with top WWE Superstars.

Soul Ruka Defeats Bayley (53:05–55:09)

• A highlight was Soul Ruka (with Zaria) pinning Bayley clean, signaling her arrival as a major future star.
• Sam: “And I thought that all the stars from NXT were just so aware of this is the platform that I’m on. I deserve to be on this platform.” (54:33)

Leon Slater & Javon Evans: Tag Team Standouts (71:24–72:47)

• The hosts spotlight Leon Slater and Javon Evans (formerly from TNA/NXT/Level Up) as stars poised to “redefine the level of relatability and connection.”
• These new faces inspire the same kind of childhood identification that Cena once did for many fans.

Obafemi Interview: Hunger, Arrival, and Poise (58:53–68:50)

Facing Cody Rhodes and Seizing the Moment (59:46–61:26)

• Obafemi describes going “toe to toe” with WWE champ Cody Rhodes, reveling in dueling crowd chants and feeling “undeniable.”

Notable Quote:
“The crowd reacted to me like I've been here for decades...I didn't feel like I didn't belong. It didn't feel like I was out of place. The walk speaks for itself.” – Obafemi (59:46)

Respect for Cena and Embracing the Future (62:02–63:21)

• Obafemi, who watched Cena from Nigeria as a child, calls it “poetic” that “his end is my beginning.”
• He emphasizes being “forward, ever backward, never,” reflecting his drive.

Notable Quote:
“His end is my beginning. And that's something special right there.” – Obafemi (62:38)

The DQ Finish and Message to WWE’s Veterans (65:42–66:41)

• Obafemi says Drew McIntyre “robbed the fans” by interfering, then boldly tells all “40-year-old veterans: The future is here, the future is now, and the now is me.”

Triple H and What’s Next

• Obafemi reveals Triple H told him: “We're going to make magic.” (68:28)

Reflections: Wrestling’s Endings and Beginnings (73:38–End)

• The hosts reflect on how Cena’s “complete story”—from the “Kurt and ruthless aggression” debut, through “Super Cena,” to his final match—mirrors the cyclical nature (“cyclical, like Nick’s balls!”) of wrestling.
• They express excitement for the limitless future—Obafemi, Sol Ruka, Slater & Evans, and others—and how a new generation stands poised to create their own legacies.

Memorable Moment:
Megan: “When we talk about Sol Ruka, when we talk about Leon Slater, when we talk about Javon Evans, when we talk about Gunther, when we talk about the future of professional wrestling, I get so excited.” (76:53)

Key Timestamps & Segments

| Time | Segment/Content | |-----------|----------------------------------------| | 00:17–10:29 | Cena’s final match – emotions, main event recap, significance | | 11:00–16:00 | Gunther's role and legacy; Audience reactions; Cena’s message | | 28:03–50:49 | R-Truth interview: Cena’s legacy, locker room stories, “balls” comedy thread, and R-Truth’s future | | 52:25–55:09 | NXT elevation; Sol Ruka’s breakout moment | | 58:53–68:50 | Obafemi interview: facing Cody, message for the future | | 71:24–73:38 | Leon Slater & Javon Evans, youth movement | | 73:38–End | Reflections on wrestling’s cyclical nature, Cena’s story as part of something bigger |

Notable Quotes

• “There is something ... so incredible about watching people react to the bad guy winning and being unhappy, which is exactly what wrestling is.” – Sam Roberts (08:42)
• “John Cena’s greatest rivalry ... has been with us, has been with the fans.” – Sam Roberts (13:05)
• “Nothing lasts forever, and he’s able to do it on his own terms.” – R-Truth (28:18)
• “His end is my beginning. And that's something special right there.” – Obafemi (62:38)

Tone & Style

The tone mixes reverent nostalgia, genuine emotion, and trademark wrestling banter—with humor and sincerity often side-by-side. R-Truth’s comic energy offsets the episode’s heavier themes. There’s emphasis on the passage of time, the cycle of wrestling stardom, and the excitement for what’s next.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode isn’t just a review of Monday Night Raw or one pay-per-view: it’s a poignant moment in WWE history, mourning and celebrating John Cena’s retirement while exploring the ripple effects on every facet of the WWE universe. It pays tribute to Cena’s unmatched legacy, Gunther’s new mythology, and the rise of talents like Obafemi, Sol Ruka, and others. With rare backstage candor, nostalgia, tears, and plenty of laughs (plus recurring jokes about “balls”), the hosts make clear that while one chapter ends, the WWE story is far from finished—and the future is full of promise.

For anyone who missed the show, this episode delivers not just the what and the how of the night, but the very heart of what it meant to all those inside the squared circle and out.