John Cena left AJ Styles stunned with an incredible gesture honouring his career ahead of the two legend's final match.
Cena, nearing the end of his retirement tour, personally requested to face 'The Phenomenal One' in one of his last encounters - breaking WWE protocol with a social media post.
The 17-time WWE champion got his wish and was given the opportunity to mix it up with Styles, one of his greatest rivals, for the final time.
The pair locked up in Perth, Australia at the Crown Jewel event on Saturday and the atmosphere was already bubbling in the RAC Arena from the moment they made their entrances.
Advert
Cena and Styles had been in separate companies for a good chunk of their careers but after the TNA icon made the stunning switch to WWE in January 2016, they became wrestling soulmates and put on a number of clinics inside the wrestling circle.
Prior to their very last meeting, Cena paid tribute to Styles, also set to hang up his boots in the near future, by penning a special introduction note that ring announcer Alicia Taylor read out over the microphone.
The note said: "The definition of Total Nonstop Action. The ace and total boss of the Bullet Club. It is my honor as an opponent to see if he can beat up John Cena one final time. He is the face that runs the place. The Phenomenal AJ Styles!"
While stood in the ring, Styles was visibly emotional and astonished in equal measure and even appeared to utter the words, 'Oh s***!' at the complimentary words.
Cena beat Styles in an epic Royal Rumble encounter in 2017, tying Ric Flair's record by winning his 16th world title.
Their clash in Perth made it a fifth one-on-one encounter between two of the all-time greats and Styles, who confirmed his 2026 retirement, is adamant that no amount of money will convince them to mix it up again.
"I am happy to get the opportunity to face John one more time and I can tell you this," Styles said.
"It will never happen again. I don’t care how much money, they offer us…
"We are NOT going to Saudi Arabia to have another match. You know, this is it man.”
Cena is poised to have a further two matches before he calls it a day, with bouts with Dominik Mysterio and Gunther said to be pencilled in.
Josh Lawless