John Cena reacts to touching musical tribute ahead of WWE RAW
John Cena has acknowledged a heartfelt tribute dedicated to him just hours before WWE RAW goes live from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. With his retirement drawing near, tributes from fans and fellow creators have become more frequent — but one particular homage stood out enough to earn a rare personal response from The Cenation Leader.
Earlier today, musician and content creator Josiah Williams released a special track in honor of Cena, sampling the beat from Cena’s iconic theme "Right Now". The video quickly gained attention online, eventually catching the eye of the 16-time World Champion himself.
Cena responded with deep appreciation, expressing that the tribute meant more than words could capture:
“I’m not sure I have the words to articulate how grateful I am along with how impressed I am. Your work here as an artist and skill is far beyond anything I’ve ever accomplished. Your words mean more to me than you’ll ever know. Respect.”
I’m not sure I have the words to articulate how grateful I am along with how impressed I am. Your work here as an artist and skill is far beyond anything I’ve ever accomplished. Your words mean more to me than you’ll ever know.
— John Cena (@JohnCena) December 8, 2025
Respect. https://t.co/xx17k5JRNa
The exchange has sparked emotional reactions from fans online, many acknowledging how close Cena is to the final stretch of his in-ring career.
Gunther awaits Cena for emotional final match
On last week’s WWE SmackDown, Gunther defeated LA Knight in the finals of the Last Time Is Now Tournament, officially securing his place as Cena’s opponent for the legendary superstar’s retirement match. The bout will take place on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, marking the end of a 20+ year career that shaped modern WWE.
Gunther — known for his dominant in-ring style — may prove to be one of Cena’s toughest final fights ever.
Cena shows love to rising WWE star Dominik Mysterio
While Cena prepares for his last match, he recently opened up about the evolution of the business during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. The Hollywood star praised Dominik Mysterio, calling him one of the few performers today who are willing to take creative risks — something Cena believes is crucial for growth.
Cena reflected on how non-televised events used to allow experimentation:
“I learned how to fail in those live events. I could take big swings… Dom’s one of the few guys who will stand on an idea like that. He’ll try something bold, even if people don’t get it at first.”
Dominik has clearly earned Cena’s respect — and their recent history only makes it more noteworthy, as Mysterio defeated Cena to win the Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series 2025.
With RAW approaching and retirement around the corner, the tributes only continue to highlight how deeply Cena has impacted fans, performers, and the entire industry. Saturday Night’s Main Event is shaping up to be one of the most emotional nights in WWE history.
