A former WWE personality has claimed that Drew McIntyre and John Cena may be facing repercussions in their match bookings after attending Vince McMahon’s 80th birthday party in New York City. The two stars, part of a large gathering with several major WWE names, chose not to comment publicly on the event or their involvement.
John Cena, known as the Cenation Leader, recently defeated Logan Paul at Clash in Paris but then lost twice—once to Sami Zayn on SmackDown in a United States Championship match and again in a quick loss to Brock Lesnar at the new Wrestlepalooza event. Drew McIntyre managed a victory over Randy Orton on SmackDown but fell short in his bid to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes at Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis.
Jonathan Coachman Suggests Cena and McIntyre Have Experienced a Booking Backlash
During a recent episode of Coach and Bro Live!, former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman, age 52, expressed his view that both Drew McIntyre and John Cena are being sidelined after their attendance at Vince McMahon’s private party. Coachman pointed to their underwhelming match results and booking patterns this past month as evidence.
“Anybody that was at that birthday party, either has not been pushed in the last month. Drew McIntyre was there. [John] Cena was there. What does their last month look like? Pulling the Boston show away from Cena, beating Drew McIntyre clean after he made those comments. Are those coincidences?,” Coachman said.
Wrestlepalooza’s Reception and Impact on Drew McIntyre’s Standing
Before his podcast, Coachman aired his critique of Wrestlepalooza, the first-ever premium live WWE event streamed on ESPN. He noted that despite Triple H’s opening promise of multiple surprises, the night only featured Brock Lesnar’s introduction by Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon’s Hall of Fame induction announcement by The Undertaker.
“HHH promised a bunch of surprises tonight at Wrestlepalooza and we got 2 1. Paul Heyman introduces Brock2. Stephanie McMahon finds out she is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Do you think espn is happy with that as their first show? I thought they were going to…” — Jonathan Coachman, Former WWE Announcer
Coachman also highlighted the absence of important WWE figures such as Charlotte Flair, Randy Orton, and Roman Reigns at the event, which he felt weakened the overall card. Specifically, he critiqued Drew McIntyre’s loss to Cody Rhodes, suggesting that it could reflect deeper issues with the current WWE leadership under TKO.
Although Coachman acknowledged McIntyre as one of his personal favorites, he remarked on a recurring pattern of McIntyre falling short in high-profile matches, which might indicate intentional booking decisions influenced by backstage dynamics.
Implications for Cena and McIntyre’s Future in WWE
The theory that Drew McIntyre and John Cena might be facing diminished support from WWE leadership following their presence at Vince McMahon’s birthday party raises questions about their career trajectories. Cena’s recent losses and McIntyre’s inability to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship suggest a possible shift in WWE’s focus away from these veteran performers.
Given the intensity of the current landscape, this could signal a move toward promoting other talent while marginalizing established stars linked to McMahon’s private events. How this will affect both men’s future storylines and prominence on WWE programming remains to be seen, but the recent pattern indicates potential challenges ahead.
Watchers of WWE and followers of Drew McIntyre WWE punishment-related developments will likely keep close tabs on upcoming shows, analyzing whether the booking patterns change as new leadership strategies unfold.
HHH promised a bunch of surprises tonight at Wrestlepalooza and we got 2
1. Paul Heyman introduces Brock
2. Stephanie McMahon finds out she is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.Do you think espn is happy with that as their first show?
I thought they were going to…
— The Coach (@Thecoachrules) September 21, 2025
