A well-known wrestler recently disclosed the surprising circumstances behind his participation in a WWE event last year, where he shared a meaningful moment with John Cena. Elias explained that despite having no prearranged plans, John Cena personally reached out and invited him to attend the show, emphasizing the strength of their connection. This unexpected call highlighted the impact of John Cena’s influence within WWE circles.
John Cena’s retirement at Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) 2025 was marked by appearances from several notable figures across WWE history. While many attendees, including Kurt Angle, RVD, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn, had clear histories with Cena, Elias’s presence surprised fans since they did not share an extensive on-screen relationship.
Insights from Elias About His Invitation to SNME
In an interview with Sam Roberts, Elias, now wrestling as Elijah in TNA, described how WWE contacted him just days before the event. Despite the short notice, WWE had no specific plan for his role but wanted him there to support John Cena’s final match. Elias accepted the invitation, honoring Cena’s legacy and expressing his respect for the WWE icon.
“I couldn’t even begin to tell ya how that came about. I really don’t know. I got a call on Tuesday from WWE saying we would like you to be at Saturday Night’s Main Event for John’s final match. I said, ‘Yeah. To do what?’ And they were like, ‘Well, we don’t really know yet. We’ll figure it out, but we’d like you to be there’ and I said, ‘Okay, sure, of course,’ and I have my own history with John Cena and of course in general he’s just the greatest ever so, of course it was an honor to be a part of that and really fun and I was game to do whatever. If it’s like a pre-show interview or whatever. So then, nothing kind of came about and then as the main event starts to come out, they’re like, ‘Hey, we’re gonna go sit ya right there.’ ‘Okay! Sure…’ said Elias.” – Elias, Wrestler
The Personal Relationship Between Elias and John Cena
Elias also reflected on the personal friendship he shared with John Cena, emphasizing the support Cena provided behind the scenes during their overlapping WWE careers. He noted that Cena often advocated for him backstage and was always eager to collaborate and shape wrestling segments, demonstrating respect beyond their on-screen roles.
“It was a special moment. Of course I got a lot of history and friendship with John over the years and through working together and I kind of put out a little post of myself. He was a really great advocate for me behind the scenes… So much goes on back there that people don’t know sometimes and he was always just so game to work with me and make things happen and do things, and he loved playing with the character and all that stuff too…” – Elias, Wrestler
Aside from his surprise cameo at SNME, Elias also made an appearance on NXT television earlier in the year, participating in a Battle Royal event that demonstrated his ongoing involvement with wrestling outside WWE.
The return of Elias to WWE for the SNME 2025 event illustrates the strong bonds forged within the wrestling community, particularly through John Cena’s influential relationships. As Cena’s retirement progresses into legacy-building moments, such interactions reinforce the collaborative environment behind the scenes. Elias’s unexpected inclusion highlights how personal connections often influence WWE programming decisions, suggesting that similar invitations for past performers could continue in future events celebrating WWE history and milestones.
John Cena and Elias reunited at SNME 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oU5by6Qkkc
— WrestlingWorldCC (@WrestlingWCC) December 15, 2025
