An emotional Cody Rhodes reacts to John Cena’s retirement from WWE in an “unplanned” interview

It’s just that when it’s that good, you don’t want it to end. I know that sounds vague, but he did everything by the book. He taught so many people and set such a high standard, such a high bar.

I’m not trying to get emotional on his night, but more than anything, I just want to take a moment and think about those sneakers, the pump-ups before that, and the man who filled them—what he was able to do through good times and bad times.

Tonight, everyone was just chanting, ‘Let’s go Cena.’ Not ‘Let’s go Cena, Cena sucks.’ Just ‘Let’s go Cena.’ It’s everything.

I’m so happy that it happened. It’s a great arena with great wrestling history. And I’m so sad it happened too, right?

Triple H called me and asked if I would be part of Saturday Night’s Main Event. And wrestlers always act like that’s such a big ask. Are you kidding? To be part of John Cena’s final show? To be able to bask in this glory, in this house?

There’s a number—I’m sure Triple H is reading it somewhere right now—the amount of sellouts, the amount of things John did. And I know that sounds material, but John led with his heart and he also led with his mind. He was a businessman, trained by businessmen, and he trained us to be businessmen.

To go out there with 19,000 people—whatever the number was—and not a soul leaves until he leaves? That’s not a sign of a good career. That’s a great career. And we can only hope to have something like that.

Hats off to the greatest of all time.

I heard CM Punk say it earlier—we don’t always get to choose. Sinatra said it best: ‘My Way.’ And there was never somebody who did it more their way than John.

To be able to come in, do this on the way out, and do the honors… there will never be another John Cena.

You hear people say, ‘This is the next John Cena,’ ‘the next Brock Lesnar,’ ‘the next Kurt Angle,’ ‘the next Undertaker,’ ‘the next Shawn Michaels,’ ‘the next Triple H.’ There is no next anybody. Everyone is unique when they truly get over—like John did—where he couldn’t leave the house without people wanting to touch him, know him, and be part of what he was doing.

To me, this is just a moment to take in. That’s a high bar, but that’s what we’re supposed to shoot for. And John would say the same thing—that’s what we’re supposed to shoot beyond.

I’m really honored to be here. And the good thing about WWE is that we go right back to work Monday. It’s WWE without John Cena. What does that look like? Who steps up? Who fills those shoes?

And I have a feeling it’s more than one person.”