50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE WrestleMania
2. John Cena’s ‘Mania 39 Loss Meant Nothing
Keep this match in mind during John Cena's retirement tour throughout 2025.
A win over JC isn't some automatic ticket to the top. For proof of that, go watch John doing the honours for Austin Theory at WrestleMania 39. This was supposed to be a soft reset moment for Theory's main event aspirations after being a Vince pet project up until the end of his run. 'Mania 39 was Triple H's bid to take that ball and run as far as he could with it, but he can't have liked running.
What should've been a springboard win for Austin ultimately meant nothing for his career. He's been stuffed in a heel tag-team with Grayson Waller ever since, and it looks like his greatest shot at success is spinning out of that into a dramatic babyface run. Still, Cena did everything he could to make Theory into a top liner right at the start of 2023's biggest weekend. Theory not going from strength to strength didn't come from some lack of effort on everyone's behalf, that's worth stating.
Cena went on to stare at the lights for Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel 2023 over in Saudi Arabia. That defeat has had a wider impact on WWE's main event mix, because Solo has been able to use it as fuel for a run as would-be Bloodline 'Tribal Chief'. Theory didn't do much of anything worth shouting about after beating John. If anything, he's worse off now than he was before it, which is the total opposite of what banner victories like this one are designed to accomplish.
Don't expect WWE to bring this up much during Cena's last hurrah.