John Cena’s retirement tour has evoked mixed feelings within the wrestling community, particularly for The Miz, who expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for a match against the legendary performer. Earlier this year, The Miz conveyed his frustration upon learning about Cena’s match with AJ Styles, firmly stating that while he genuinely wishes Styles well, he felt neglected in favor of another wrestler.
The Miz has long sought a showdown with Cena, especially since the latter announced his plans to retire. He famously bested Cena at WrestleMania 27, which raises the stakes for their anticipated rivalry. During a recent interview on the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina, The Miz aired his grievances and blurred the boundaries between reality and storyline, attributing part of the blame for the missed opportunity to his fanbase.
“I put my name in the hat and went, ‘I wanna go up against John Cena. I want to take on John Cena one last time. The Miz versus Cena,’” he recalled. The Miz expressed his regret regarding the match not materializing, suggesting that if fans had been more vocal in their support, the outcome might have been different. “All I had to do was tweet, and all I had to have was the fans have my back,” he lamented.
When probed about discussions with Triple H and WWE executives regarding this potential match, The Miz revealed he had reached out to numerous individuals in an attempt to make it happen. He hinted that the opportunity was close at one point but ultimately fell through due to “certain circumstances” that were never disclosed.
While Miz acknowledged the unpredictability characteristic of the wrestling industry, he noted the importance of adapting to such situations. “I get more or less like, okay, how can I make the best of a situation? That’s all I can control,” he reflected, choosing to approach the situation with a pragmatic mindset.
As Cena prepares for his final match at the Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 against Gunther, the wrestling world awaits to see how the departure of such an iconic figure will impact future storylines. Despite his popularity, Cena remains resolute about his decision to retire, stating his commitment to resist any temptation to return to the ring beyond this event.