Controversial former chairman might appear emotionally at Cena’s retirement match, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray says
Speculation is rife in the pro wrestling world that WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray was angling out there when he suggested that Vince McMahon might appear on WWE TV in the retirement match of John Cena, and it could be the last we ever see of them both together in this business. Cena’s career began a farewell tour that is approaching its emotional conclusion in December 2025.
During an interview with the “Busted Open After Dark” podcast, Ray noted recent events that would perhaps herald the way back in by McMahon. According to the veteran wrestler, WWE included the picture of McMahon, and he was raising the hand of Hulk Hogan when a tribute video was created in one of the rare recognitions of the former chairman after his exit. You see, the thing is that WWE has not talked much about Vince. No, you have not seen his picture or heard his name said,” Ray noted, which could indicate the start of some sort of rehabilitation project.
An intricate History in need of redemption
Even mentioning the possibility of McMahon returning is a box of Pandora full of emotions and controversies. When he left the company in January of 2024, the founder of WWE, who turned the company into a worldwide entertainment giant, did so under serious legal accusations, with a federal investigation against him and civil lawsuits over sexual misconduct accusations. His departure signaled the decline of an era as he cut his link with the company he had made into a billion-dollar publicly traded corporation out of a regional territory.
However, Ray thinks that the emotional burden of the retirement of Cena might work to great effect to make a special moment of reconciliation. The final fight or his final visit to Boston would be Cena. John is going to be retiring heartbreakingly, as people will be shedding tears when the time comes. It will be a sentimental evening, he answered, about the historical background of the two men.
Cena and McMahon have one of WWE’s most winning dynamic talent-executive relationships. Although it was Stephanie McMahon who initially saw something special in Cena when she heard him rap on a tour bus, it was Vince who finally OKed the creation of a character that would become one of the largest stars. Ray observed that John and Vince have become friends despite all this, which is an indication that they are psychologically unaffected by the corporate upheavals.
The Boston Setting, The Emotional Perfect Storm
It has been reported that WWE has scheduled what will be Cena’s last match in Boston’s TD Garden in December 2025, perhaps a Premium Live Event. The fact that Boston is selected is especially important, as it is the home turf of Cena, where he started, and the WWE first saw a potential star in him.
Cena has insisted on that being the end of his retirement by pledging that he will have 36 more appearances in the year 2025 before his definitive entry into Hollywood occupations. After having just finished high-profile works such as Fast and Furious and Peacemaker, the champion 16 times in the world seems determined in this change of career, so that his farewell tour will be truly final.
There is no low-hanging fruit when it comes to the feelings involved. The retirement in wrestling is unlike in other sports, rarely receiving conclusive finishes, with supposedly retired wrestlers who specialise in appearance and occasionally full comeback. The insistence on permanence by Cena lends weight to all his subsequent appearances, making a scenario in which never-before-seen things can happen.
Myths and Reality: Industry Strategic Responses
There are still divided feelings in the wrestling community on whether McMahon will someday come back or not, with some veteran industry insiders even concerned, commenting on his newfound presence. Even an iconic announcer, Jim Ross, recently remarked about the appearance of McMahon during a Hulk Hogan documentary by stating he looked terrible as he seemed to be exhausted and closed up. These observations bring about the question of whether McMahon is physically and emotionally ready to get back into the spotlight or not.
Business-wise, there is also the recent structure of the company by TKO Group. Ray proposed that TKO and WWE will observe how fans reacted when McMahon was interviewed on the documentary, and whether it would be a good move to recall the founder. This is targeted and makes sense and is a golden mean between the nostalgia and fan reactions and corporate branding.
This also aligns with WWE still trying to distance themselves not only from McMahon, but honouring his history at the same time. The mention of his name and his picture has been avoided in large part in the current programming; thus, the inclusion of the Hogan tribute would now indeed be very serious. In industry circles, this is seen as a possible fandom test reaction- a test balloon to further re-engagement.
Historical Precedent, Fan Psychology
This is not a scenario that is met in wrestling history. In contrast with other sports in which tainted bailiffs disappear into obscurity, the peculiar combination of performance and reality associated with professional wrestling allows the redemptive stories to emerge. The world of entertainment revisits the same and familiar elements of comebacks, second chances, and the confusion of real-life scandals with catching serial drama.
