John Cena recently disclosed that The Undertaker’s illness inadvertently led to his WWE debut 23 years ago, a moment that marked the beginning of the Ruthless Aggression Era. Cena first appeared on WWE television in 2002 during a confrontation with Kurt Angle, delivering a knockout punch that sparked a new chapter for the company.
Since that unexpected debut, Cena has risen to become one of the most decorated stars in WWE history, securing 17 world titles—the most in company history. Currently, Cena is wrapping up his career with a farewell tour and has vowed to retire from in-ring competition by the end of the year, signaling the close of a legendary chapter in professional wrestling.
How The Undertaker’s Absence Paved the Way for Cena’s Debut
In a recent interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, John Cena reflected on his career’s origins and revealed that he only debuted that night because The Undertaker was unavailable due to illness. This unexpected circumstance gave Cena the opportunity to step in and make an immediate impact in WWE.
“In 23 years, we have seen the timeline go from like Ruthless Aggression to ‘just happy to be kicking it’. [Whether he has a final opponent in mind] No, no. I have never operated like that. It’s weird because I have always been like that guy. That clip you saw was by mistake. The Undertaker was sick. No kidding. I have always been like reliable, showing up, and doing whatever was asked.” —John Cena
Cena acknowledged that his debut was not originally planned but happened by chance. Throughout his career, he has maintained a reputation for dependability and professionalism, always prepared to fulfill the company’s needs whenever called upon.
This revelation about his first appearance surprises many fans, especially as Cena approaches the end of his wrestling journey, offering a new perspective on how a wrestling icon’s career unexpectedly began.
Ongoing WWE and AEW Competition May Impact Cena’s Farewell Matches
As Cena prepares for his final matches, recent reports suggest he is caught in the growing competition between WWE and AEW. Journalist Bryan Alvarez noted that WWE aims to schedule Cena’s retirement bout during AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view event, intensifying the rivalry between the two promotions.
Originally, Cena’s final match was scheduled for mid-December, but rumors indicate that WWE may have postponed it to directly compete with AEW’s event. Additionally, Cena’s last known match against Brock Lesnar is reportedly set for September 20 at WWE’s Bad Blood show, which coincides with AEW All Out on the same day.
Neither WWE nor Cena has officially confirmed the dates or opponents, leaving fans uncertain as the wrestling world watches this high-stakes competition unfold.
John Cena’s debut, influenced by an unexpected twist of fate involving The Undertaker, has become a defining moment in WWE history. As Cena closes the curtain on his distinguished career amid a tense battle between wrestling giants WWE and AEW, the full impact of his legacy and farewell remains an open question, keeping fans anxiously waiting for what comes next.
