WWE Criticized for Squandering John Cena's Final 'Rubs'
Critics argue the wrestling promotion is failing to capitalize on the momentum generated by John Cena's final appearances for top stars like Gunther and Dominik Mysterio.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is facing criticism for what some perceive as a failure to fully leverage the impact of John Cena's final appearances, often referred to as 'rubs,' on two of its prominent wrestlers, Gunther and Dominik Mysterio.
The criticism centers on booking decisions that have seen both wrestlers lose significant matches following their encounters with Cena. It has been over nine months since Gunther, hand-picked by WWE to face Cena in what was billed as the final match of the wrestling legend's career, made Cena submit. This victory was seen as a major boost for Gunther, positioning him as a dominant heel with significant momentum.
However, since that match, Gunther's trajectory has faced challenges. While he secured wins against A.J. Styles and Seth Rollins early on, he later lost to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Clash in Italy. Further losses followed, including a defeat after Sami Zayn, acting as special guest referee, interfered. Zayn then went on to win the WWE Championship himself, diminishing Gunther's prior victory over him.
Dominik Mysterio has also been part of the critique. While the specific details of his recent booking and its impact after interacting with Cena are not fully elaborated, the general sentiment suggests a similar pattern of squandered opportunity following a high-profile rub.