John Cena confused many people when he smiled while tapping out during his final match. Cena’s actions have a direct connection with a major character’s death in the Star Wars franchise.
Gunther making Cena tap out in his retirement match has drawn plenty of criticism since it happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December. Triple H explained why Cena’s final match had to be booked that way, and Cena also tipped off what inspired the match finish.
John Cena shared a picture of Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, who smirked before sacrificing himself by allowing Darth Vader to strike him down during a battle. Kenobi’s actions were selfless, as he sacrificed himself so others could escape the Death Star. Cena also had a smile on his face when he tapped out to Gunther, and it seems like he willingly sacrificed himself so the stars of the future can continue in his place.
John Cena compared his WWE retirement to dying peacefully
WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray also picked up on Cena’s Star Wars reference, explaining why John Cena tapped out in his retirement match in a tweet that broke the segment down.
“Obi-Wan smirked/smiled just before Vader struck him down because he accepted his fate and knew in order for others to live…he must die. And thats why John tapped.”
Cena later went into detail about the final moments of his retirement match, particularly the smile on his face, during a recent interview with Cody Rhodes. Cena confirmed Rhodes’ theory that he went face-to-face with death and wore a smile, then confirmed that Obi-Wan Kenobi met a similar fate in A New Hope.
“Everything I preach about story and drama and having a conversation with the audience. The ones I love are in the front row, I know my colleagues are watching on the monitor back there. We’re just in a sleeper hold, but we’re having that conversation with the audience. So, as I essentially take my last breath, I have struggled.”
“That whole day with so many unbelievably vulnerable, meaningful conversations, and then you realize I’ve connected with everybody I love, physically I feel great, I think it’s time to take that last breath…this person died peacefully.”
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