John Cena has explained his reasoning for facing Logan Paul at Clash in Paris, stating that the decision was about respecting who was brave enough to answer an open challenge. Speaking at the post-show press conference, Cena drew a direct comparison between Paul stepping up and his own career-defining debut against Kurt Angle in 2002.
When questioned why he gave a spot on his limited farewell tour to Paul, Cena clarified it wasn’t a handpicked decision but a response to who answered his call.
“I asked for the challenge. I said, ‘Hey guys, I feel pretty good. I think I am going to go down swinging. I want to give everything I have to the business. Who wants to step up?’” Cena explained. “And man, I remember somebody giving me an opportunity in Chicago, Illinois. I stepped up, and I wasn’t ready, and there was a whole lot of people who could have faced Kurt Angle that night. I was the one who had the stupid bravery to slap him in the face.”
Cena added that he has immense respect for Paul’s dedication to the business, noting his potential and describing him as “borderline unhealthy, obsessed with it.”
The match at Clash in Paris saw Cena defeat Paul in a contest that lasted nearly 30 minutes, marking his final in-ring performance in Europe and his 99th career win at a premium live event. Cena secured the victory after delivering two consecutive Attitude Adjustments. The feud began on an episode of SmackDown following SummerSlam when Cena issued an open challenge, which Paul accepted. Their confrontation led to a tag team match where Paul was disqualified for delivering a low blow to Cena, setting up their one-on-one bout.
During the press conference, Cena also addressed another element of his recent matches. He explained that since he cannot wrestle everyone who has impacted his career before he retires, he is paying homage to them by using their signature moves, such as the Styles Clash he performed during the match against Paul.