John Cena used his final SmackDown appearance in Chicago to honor one of his greatest rivals, Adam Copeland. During a United States Championship match against Sami Zayn, Cena performed Copeland’s signature taunt before hitting a spear, a direct nod to their storied history on a significant night for his farewell tour.
The tribute carried extra weight because a final match between the two is impossible. Copeland, who now wrestles under his real name in AEW, is signed to the rival promotion, though reports had suggested he was once considered for a spot on Cena’s farewell run.
The show opened with Cena addressing the Chicago crowd, noting it was his last night in the same city where he made his WWE debut 23 years earlier. The segment was interrupted by Sami Zayn, who offered Cena a shot at his recently won United States Championship.
While Cena was unsuccessful in capturing the title for a sixth time, the moment with the spear underscored the theme of his tour. By channeling Copeland, he gave fans a taste of the iconic rivalry that helped define WWE in the mid-2000s, honoring a key opponent who shaped his career.