Michael Cole Delivers Coldest Line in WWE History at John Cena’s Last Match

Of the many WWE Superstars and staff to pay tribute to John Cena during his final days on the active roster, few are as closely linked with the 17-time world champion as veteran announcer Michael Cole.

Cole has provided the soundtrack to many of Cena’s greatest moments inside the squared circle, and the broadcaster had the perfect line to sum up the result of Cena’s farewell match against Gunther on Saturday night.

Cena debuted on the WWE main roster on SmackDown in June 2002. Cole was the voice of the blue brand at the time and for the next three years, he would call every significant moment in John’s career, including his first-ever WWE Championship win over John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield at WrestleMania 21.

Later that same year, Cena moved to Raw, where Hall of Fame duo Jim Ross and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler handled announcing duties. It wouldn’t take long, though, before Cole himself was a part of Monday nights and, once again, narrating John’s biggest triumphs (and setbacks).

The lead announcer for both of Cena’s WrestleMania main events with The Rock, Cole also commentated on his legendary match with CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. Most recently, Cole had the headset on for Cena’s record-breaking 17th world title win against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.

Michael Cole’s Tribute to John Cena Before His Final Match

Such is the respect that Michael holds for the WWE GOAT that he even voiced a special tribute to him that aired before his loss to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Cole’s final responsibility of Cena’s in-ring career, though, was to broadcast his last-ever match. The contest was built around Gunther attempting to use his superior technical wrestling ability to grind Cena down. On multiple occasions, ‘The Ring General’ looked to lock in his trademark sleeper submission hold, only for Cena to battle back in heroic fashion.

John fought hard to give fans in attendance at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC something to cheer. The 48-year-old hit multiple Five Knuckle Shuffles and Attitude Adjustments, including one through a table and one off the top rope.

Michael Cole Sums Up John Cena vs Gunther Perfectly

However, in a decision that angered many WWE fans, Gunther won the bout by submission, as John tapped out for the first time in more than 20 years, eventually failing to the Austrian’s sleeper.

As boos cascaded down from the stands, Cole summed up what he had witnessed with one of the coldest lines in WWE history:

“Tonight, professional wrestling destroyed sports entertainment.”

Back in July, Gunther retired WCW legend, Goldberg, on an episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, using the same submission. His triumph over Cena, though, will live far longer in the memory and may well go down as one of the most controversial booking decisions in professional wrestling history.

It might be a time-honoured tradition for Superstars to lose the final bout of their careers, but fans were far from ready to see Cena demolished on his last night in the ring.