‘What was that?’ – WWE icons fume at John Cena’s final match as fans boo and extra security needed

WWE legends Bayley and CM Punk looked ready to join the fans in complaining about the finish to John Cena’s final match.

Record-breaking 17-time world champion Cena lost to Gunther on Saturday night, tapping out for the first time in over 20 years.

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Cena last submitted in an official match came in 2004 at No Way Out against Kurt Angle, the man he made his main roster debut against.

The 48-year-old tapped out to the Olympic Gold medalist twice in his early career, along with one to Chris Benoit on SmackDown in 2003.

Chris Jericho technically got Cena to thump the mat in submission as well the year before, but the match had already ended by DQ.

In the two decades since, the Peacemaker actor has never physically ‘tapped out’ to end a match, instead opting to pass out if the story demanded it, as he did in defeat to Rusev at Fastlane 2015.

However, Cena controversially helped Gunther join the elite club by surrendering once locked in the Ring General’s sleeper hold.

Wrestlers going out on their backs is tradition, but the decision to have the man whose motto is ‘Never Give Up’ then give up rubbed fans the wrong way.

WWE Chief Content Officer, Triple H, was loudly booed by nearly 20,000 fans in Washington, DC, after the final bell rang.

And Gunther needed extra security as he exited the Capital One Arena to a backdrop of X-rated chants from people on the streets.

Even WWE stars ringside looked disgusted at the finish to Cena’s last match, with both Bayley and CM Punk caught looking stunned.

Bayley then mouthed, ‘What is that f****** finish, you wanna go?’ to Punk, who put a consoling hand on her back as they left.

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Triple H defends the booking decision

Outside of the ring, Cena has granted more than 650 Make-A-Wish Foundation wishes, the most of any person in history.

Long ago, he turned his ‘Never Give Up’ wrestling catchphrase into a motto for those sick children who have to fight outside of WWE.

As a result, Cena hasn’t been scripted to willingly tap out to any opponent in 20 years, until his wrestling career ended in that fashion.

“I’m actually mildly disappointed,” Triple H responded to fans booing during the post-show. “I thought it would be so much louder.”

“John has said the right thing his entire career, that it is about leaving this place better than you found it,” he explained on the finish.

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“I think that there’s no way for people to understand that in the moment, but you do what is right for the business, you do what is right for this industry, John has done that his entire career, and I’m going to do that my entire career.

“What I will do is what I believe is right for this business.

“It just is what it is. It’s part of what we do. That is the role we have chosen.”