Maxxine Dupri, the current WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion, has shed light on a memorable exchange she had with John Cena as he prepared for retirement. As Cena concluded his storied WWE career, he made a point of connecting with rising stars like Dupri, providing personal insight and encouragement before stepping away from in-ring action.
Following a year-long farewell tour, John Cena stepped into the ring for the last time against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025. In the days leading up to this final match, Cena dedicated time to visit the WWE Performance Center, participate in Bayley’s wrestling seminar, and join a session at Natalya’s Dungeon. During these visits, he generously offered guidance to young talent, underlining his continued commitment to WWE and its future champions.
John Cena’s Advice to Maxxine Dupri on Standing Out in WWE
During an appearance on The Wrestling Classic, Maxxine Dupri confirmed that she received significant counsel from Cena ahead of his retirement. She emphasized how special it was to get advice directly from someone of Cena’s stature in WWE. Dupri revealed that Cena encouraged her to seize every moment she spends on television and to approach each opportunity in a way that sets her apart from others in the industry.
Explaining the depth of his guidance, Dupri noted how Cena’s suggestions focused on creativity, originality, and constant improvement after mastering the basics. The advice resonated with her, emphasizing the importance of evolving and making memorable contributions to every appearance.
“Oh my gosh, I did actually because you know as the two Intercontinental Champions… You know he was extremely kind to me, and I also got to attend a seminar at The Dungeon… I feel like I got such great advice from him about truly doing what we’ve seen Chelsea do. Make the most of every moment, no matter what happens. Take it and run with it. How can you be different? How can you be creative? How can you think outside the box? Umm, and once you have the fundamentals, how do you grow from there? And that was a really cool conversation to have with the actual GOAT,”
she said.
Reactions to Cena’s Final Match and Legacy
Cena’s impact continued to be felt even after his last bout. On a recent episode of UNLIKELY with Adrian Hernandez, The Miz—another prominent WWE figure and former adversary of Cena—shared his thoughts on Cena’s retirement match against Gunther. The Miz referred to the clash as an ideal send-off for the 17-time World Champion. He pointed out how the ending, with Cena tapping out to Gunther, served to elevate Gunther’s profile as a formidable heel in the wrestling world.
“That match with Gunther; it was everything you wanted it to be. It was the perfect last match for John Cena, the perfect foil for his baby face. And to see him, some people say he was smiling, I don’t know. It looked kind of like a grimace to me. And then him to finally giving up to a person like Gunther, and then to watch Gunther come out on Monday, that’s what I wanted to see. That’s the number one thing I wanted to see,”
The Miz said.
John Cena’s Ongoing Role with WWE
Although John Cena has concluded his in-ring competition, he remains a significant figure in the WWE as a brand ambassador. His willingness to mentor rising stars like Maxxine Dupri and contribute to training seminars underscores his dedication to the sport and its ongoing evolution.
As the next generation of WWE performers continues to emerge, Cena’s retirement advice offers a blueprint for how to make a mark in a competitive landscape. The legacy he leaves as both a champion and mentor continues to inspire, with athletes like Maxxine Dupri carrying forward his emphasis on creativity, individuality, and constant growth.
