A WWE star has recounted four personal John Cena stories ahead of the 17-time world champion’s final match this weekend.
With just two days until John Cena hangs up his boots for good at Saturday Night’s Main Event, many from the WWE locker room have paid tribute to the “Greatest of All Time”.
While WWE compiled thank you messages from the likes of Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar into a video uploaded to their YouTube channel, one WWE SmackDown star has now spoken at length about his personal exchanges over the years with Cena.
Taking to Twitter, Johnny Gargano wrote:
John Cena is THE Prototype.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Duh. We know that was his name early in his career. But I mean it in the truest sense.
When I think about doing this job at a high level, and all the extra things that come with it—the in-ring work, the signings, the appearances, the media, and maybe most importantly, how you treat people—John is the prototype.
Everyone knows by now that he goes above and beyond in every facet. A million stories have been told, and I’ve had the unique opportunity to interact with him in 3 different phases of my life:
As a fan. As an indie talent. As a contracted WWE talent.
Gargano then shared the following story of his interaction with Cena as a 14-year-old fan:
I first met him when I was about 14 years old at a signing at a Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Cleveland, OH. This was still the biker shorts, Ruthless Aggression Cena.
I was a chubby, shy teenage kid who loved Pro Wrestling but was incredibly socially awkward (I still am to be fair!). I always struggled with regret after signings because I never had the courage to talk to the wrestlers. I remember he was very welcoming and personable.
He wrote on my paper: “To John – Nice Name!” It’s incredible what that tiny added inscription meant to me. It’s something I’ve carried with me now that l’m on the other side of the table.
It’s the reason I will always take the time, initiate, and be present with fans. It’s a blessing to be in the position to make someone’s day by simply being kind and signing a piece of paper. (And if your name is “John”.”. you better believe you’re getting the Cena special from me!)
Recalling his meeting with Cena as an indie talent doing extra work in WWE, Gargano wrote:
I was an extra talent at a WWE TV taping in Dayton, Ohio. I was with my good friend “M-Dogg 20” Matt Cross, and William Regal was running matches with the extras before the show.
A few WWE talents were ringside, but I remember in particular that John Cena was sitting at the commentators’ table watching. Me and Matt had about 5 minutes, but we absolutely tore it up-fake- out dives, our signature stuff, the whole shebang.
I was waiting backstage later when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. It was John Cena. He proceeded to tell me that what we had just done was one of the best pre show matches he’d ever seen, and that we should 100% have jobs with the company.
This was prime, face-of-the-company WWE Champion John Cena. He had no reason to go out of his way to approach a random extra, but he did it because that’s who he is. If that guy, in that spot, can take the time to be kind to a random extra talent, everyone should.
There are no excuses. Something else I immediately took away was the understanding of what it takes to succeed. I started telling promoters, “Get me every media opportunity to promote your shows.” I said yes to everything. Every podcast, every appearance. Something I still do to this day. I will never say “no” and will literally do whatever outside opportunity is asked of me.
Fast forward seven years and Gargano recalled meeting with Cena backstage at Madison Square Garden whilst he was in NXT:
Back in 2018 – NXT was doing a big 10 person tag match at the WWE Holiday Tour live event in Madison Square Garden. I snuck away to take a selfie in that famous elevator with the MSG sign you’ve seen tons of pictures in throughout the years.
As I’m taking the picture, I hear: “A lot of people don’t respect the history of this building. It’s nice to see that you do.'” “It was John Cena. I told him it was my first time wrestling there and asked if he’d actually like to get in the photo with me, which he happily obliged!
Over the years, he stopped by the Performance Center a few times, and I got to sit down and get advice from him on multiple occasions.
Gargano then recounted Cena paying tribute to him on his Instagram page after he opted to let his WWE contract expire in 2021, which led to a conversation between the two:
When I decided to let my contract expire in 2021, John posted a photo of me from my last NXT match on his Instagram. I reached out to him, and he sent me a very heartfelt, complimentary text message about my time in NXT.
(More onthat later) For the past year, I’ve gotten the chance to work some bigger shows with John and pick his brain.
He always gives the most detailed, thoughtful answers. He is incredibly busy, and there’s no way he should know intricate details of what’s currently going on outside of what he is a part of —but he does, because he genuinely cares about WWE, and the future of professional wrestling.
For the latest news on where WWE are planning to position John Cena’s final match with GUNTHER on the Saturday Night’s Main Event card click here.
John Cena is THE Prototype.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Duh. We know that was his name early in his career. But I mean it in the truest sense. When I think about doing this job at a high level, and all the extra things that come with it—the in-ring work, the signings,… pic.twitter.com/YtlTMrKDta
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) December 11, 2025
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