John Cena recently paid tribute to five stars, including a retired legend and a current AEW star, during a recent match.
John Cena had his SmackDown farewell on the latest episode of the show. The star showed up at the Allstate Arena in Chicago and cut an emotional promo stating how the crowd in the city had always jeered, but today it was different, as he was loudly cheered. As he proceeded to leave the ring, Sami Zayn came out to challenge Cena for one last match, 10 years after their first one. The roles were now reversed as Sami is now the United States Champion while Cena was on his way out of the company. The star asked for permission to restart the Open Challenge and wanted the GOAT to be his first opponent.
The match was an enthralling affair until Brock Lesnar ruined it with a vicious attack.
However, during the match, John Cena managed to pay tribute to five stars, including AEW star Adam Copeland (Edge).
John Cena Also Paid Tribute To WWE Legend Kurt Angle, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, And CM Punk
While the match was ongoing, Cena suddenly hit Zayn with the Pop-Up Powerbomb, the signature move of the currently injured Kevin Owens, who also made a name for himself on the main roster by answering the Open Challenge from Cena. The GOAT then hit the Angle Slam and the Ankle Lock to pay his tribute to his first-ever opponent and WWE rival Kurt Angle. On one evening in June 2002, it was a young and ruthlessly aggressive John Cena who challenged a retired veteran in Kurt Angle, thereby etching his name in the history books.
However, the 17-time world champion was not done yet as he hit the current United States Champion with a spear, similar to that of one of his oldest and most iconic rivals, current AEW star Edge. Cena then went on to hit CM Punk’s GTS, which led to loud cheers for the RKO. However, as the Cenation Leader tried to hit Randy Orton’s legendary move, he was stopped in his tracks by Zayn.
JOHN CENA HITS THE GTS 🤯🤯🤯
SHOUT OUT TO @CMPunk#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/MGHXMgsLFV
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) September 6, 2025
The star has once again proved that he will not let go of this opportunity to pay his tributes to those WWE stars and legends who made him who he is today.