WWE Hall of Famer’s Insight on Losing to John Cena in a Pivotal Match

Former WWE Champion John Cena, who won the title against The Rock at WrestleMania 29 in 2013, found himself in another major match just a few months later. After defeating Ryback, Cena came face-to-face with Mark Henry.

Fans might remember Mark Henry, who, during an in-ring segment with John Cena, teased retirement. However, as soon as John Cena hugged him, Henry shocked everyone by attacking Cena with a World’s Strongest Slam. This shocking attack led to a match between Cena and Henry at the 2013 Money in the Bank premium live event.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry shared his thoughts on wanting to lose to John Cena in this heavily built-up match. He stated, “I built that for a year. It was a calendar year of me going, ‘I think I’m done.’ When my contract came up, I actually told Vince, ‘I’m not re-signing.’ Then he did the ‘come into my office. Let me talk to you.’ He talked me into coming back and doing all that. People mad at WWE, guys, don’t be mad at WWE because I lost to John Cena. The same way that I did not want to beat Taker at WrestleMania is the same way that I did not want to have to carry the strap and the pressure of that.”

He continued by saying, “Also, my body couldn’t do it. When you’re the main event guy and you hold the title, every night, you’re going to do two walks, a promo, an in-ring, a main event style match, and then you go to the next town. You’re on every show, every brand. I couldn’t do it. I physically couldn’t do it. It was not their fault. It was the fact that, ‘No, I’m not doing it.’”

WWE SmackDown recreates iconic John Cena and Mark Henry segment

Last Friday’s WWE SmackDown saw a segment reminiscent of Mark Henry and former WWE Champion John Cena’s encounter, played out by Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles. In a surprising turn, Styles teased retirement before launching a brutal attack on Rhodes. The escalation culminated in Styles delivering a devastating Styles Clash off the steel steps and then onto the floor. 

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, acting as Styles’ accomplices, held back WWE officials attempting to intervene. By recreating the infamous 2013 segment, it appears both Styles and Rhodes are set to face each other at Clash at the Castle 2024.