Gunther addresses fans that are upset about John Cena “giving up” in WWE retirement match
Gunther did an interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast to discuss his victory over John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Here are the highlights…
TMZ: “Was this just another win for Gunther, or was it something more?”
Gunther: “It was definitely the biggest and most meaningful win of my career, or at least the one with the biggest reaction afterward. John Cena is such a legendary figure—not just in WWE, but in wrestling in general. It’s hard to compare it to anything else. The whole day felt serious backstage, almost more important than WrestleMania to a lot of people. I knew what I was going to do, and it felt like a ticking time bomb that exploded at the end of the night—thankfully to my advantage.
TMZ: “You’re the most hated man in wrestling right now. What do you say to fans who are furious that John Cena quit?”
Gunther: “Suck it up. In Germany we have a saying: ‘Everything’s got an end, but a sausage got two.’ If you were naive enough to think that the ‘never give up’ stuff would hold up forever, then blame yourself.”
TMZ: “People compare this to Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s streak. How do you feel about that comparison?”
Gunther: “I think it’s fair. There was outrage back then too, and it turned out to be the right decision. Brock was still around and became the mountain to climb for years. What I achieved is a gift, and now it’s on me to protect that gift and live up to it.”
TMZ: “Do you have any closure about John Cena’s farewell?”
Gunther: “Objectively, it was a picture-perfect ending. He was on top for over 20 years, retired on his own terms, and is set for life. That’s the ideal outcome for any wrestler. I don’t know what everybody’s crying about. Life goes on.”
TMZ: “One last thing—anything you’d like to say to the fans?”
Gunther: “Stop crying. Life goes on.”