John Cena happy to see significance of WWE at MSG returning
John Cena is happy to see Madison Square Garden once again becoming a significant venue for WWE.
On Monday night, Cena was at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” for his last-ever Raw appearance. He kicked off the show with a promo and competed in a six-man tag match, teaming with Sheamus & Rey Mysterio to defeat The Judgment Day. Before the episode, Cena recorded an interview for the Raw Recap podcast and reflected on the importance of MSG.
“I think the significance of this building should never be lost on sports entertainment,” Cena said. “I know that there are events that are bigger and bolder and can fit more people. But I believe we can learn a lot from history, and I think that every person in WWE should understand the history of this place.
“And that way when they’re awarded the opportunity to stand on the canvas, this building shouldn’t just mean something to me. And over the years, I’ve seen the importance kind of erode away. And I think it’s got a resurgence now. And I’m very, I’m very — that makes me feel good. Because this is a place where if you are allowed to perform here, you are a professional.”
Due to the cost of running TV at the venue, WWE largely stayed away from Madison Square Garden for televised events during the 2010s. From 2009 until 2019, WWE ran house shows at MSG but only had one pay-per-view there and one WWE Network special. The company has now returned to having MSG as a regular stop for Raw and SmackDown episodes.
Cena only has two WWE appearances left after last night’s Raw. He’ll compete at Survivor Series on November 29 and then have his last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.