The retirement match of WWE legend John Cena is already creating an enormous hype, not only due to the competitors that will fight in his last performance. The most recent remark posted by a hall of famer, Mark Henry, regarding the Last Time Is Now tournament sparked a debate of criticism against people who feel that his proposal is misdirected.
The Well-Intentioned Take That Rubbed Fans the Wrong Way.
In one of the podcasts, Mark Henry has floated a radical version of the 16-man tournament that will decide who Cena fights last: he thinks that outsider star Joe Hendry should win the bracket, and then Cena fights him in his retirement match. Henry even proceeded to advise WWE to have Hendry retire Cena. His remarks, though ardent, did not go down well with a vocal section of the WWE Universe.
There were posts on social media that became ablaze with replies such as:
This is not the one Mark Henry is cooking with.
Whenever Henry speaks, it is mostly worth doing the exact reverse.
Joe Hendry to retire the greatest career of all time is it anything serious?
The critics identified three common problems: Hendry did not have the experience of a WWE main-roster transaction, and thus, he is an odd choice for such a momentous occasion; they feel that Henry is diminishing the younger members of the roster who have built their careers, yet are waiting to get a shot at a promotion; and the third issue that has been noted by many is that they are tired of the use of tournaments as a quick fix when there are long-time reserves that were waiting to be showcased.
Why the Tournament is such a big deal.
The 16-man bracket that Cena has is not another plot twist of his own, but the swan song of one of the most famous professional wrestling careers in history. The tournament winner will be the one who will share the ring with Cena on December 13, 2025, in what is being made to appear his last WWE match. The stakes could not be greater: it is one-in-a-career shot to the competitor; it is a matter of legacy, ratings, hype, and putting an end to a monumental chapter to WWE.
That is why the fans are protective. Recommending Hendry, who had impressive independent merits but only a minimal main-roster experience, as the last man to be made the face of Cena seemed to some an error. It also appeared to overcome larger stars, emerging local stars, and the pathos the situation requires.
The Hall of Fame and its Function, Role, or Guideline?
It is interesting that what Mark Henry says draws attention to the fact that people listen to legends. However, the backlash in this case was a welcome factor. His opinion appeared to be a fusion between nostalgia (I have known Hendry…) and his conception of the future of wrestling. Fans reason though, that legacy moments such as the retirement of Cena should be more input-driven.
In wrestling, the respect to the past is usually associated with construction to the future. Others believe that the proposal Henry is making may be too much of a look to the rear without giving sufficient service to the future. The result? An excellent idea to one, and a wrong idea to another.
My Take: Why Fans Reacted -and What WWE Should Do.
In my observation, there were three points that led to the agitation:
Appreciated loss of seriousness: replacing Cena with another person who has not hosted a big WWE event may not augur well.
Tournament burnout: spectators are cautious about 16-man pieces of gear cluttered in the present day narratives. The format is not the only thing that this match deserves.
Emotional investment: So many people identify with the send-off of Cena. A competitor that is not likely to appeal to longtime viewers is even more insulting to propose.
The thing WWE ought to do is capitalize on the feeling. The story may unfold in stages, as opposed to a haphazard surprise bracket winner:
Publicize viable main-roster names prematurely.
Disclose Indies or later surprise entrants to add flash.
Create a trail that is not forced.
With WWE having the ability to merge star power, underdog storyline, and surprise, they will be able to avoid the backlash and provide an appropriate final chapter.
