John Cena's big loss to ex-WWE Champion was due to "politics," claims top AEW star

John Cena's farewell tour saw him suffer a massive defeat at the hands of an ex-WWE Champion. A top AEW star made a bold proclamation that it was all due to nothing but backstage politics.

The aforementioned star, who is a former AEW Women's World Champion, is Thunder Rosa. The Never Seen 17 squared off against former ten-time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar at the Wrestlepalooza Premium Live Event this year. The match was made following Lesnar's return to WWE after two years at SummerSlam 2025, where he confronted and nailed him with an F-5. While Cena put up a valiant effort, he was dominated and defeated by his storied rival in their in-ring showdown.

During her Survivor Series preview on the Busted Open podcast, Thunder Rosa said that she did not like John Cena getting squashed by Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza. Rosa further added that it was all due to politics.

“Certain things I didn’t agree with—like him losing to Brock Lesnar. I was not okay with that. It was pointless. I mean, come on—like… but whatever. You know, politics.”- H/T Ringside News

John Cena is set to wrestle his last WWE PLE match

John Cena has only two dates left on his WWE farewell tour. The Cenation Leader will defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship against 'Dirty' Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series 2025, which will mark his final Premium Live Event in-ring appearance.

The match was made official a week after Cena dethroned Mysterio to win the workhorse title and become a Grand Slam Champion. In the same edition of the Busted Open podcast, Thunder Rosa made it crystal clear that she wanted The Judgment Day member to defeat Cena and regain the title.

“Dominik needs to win… John Cena needs to put his money where his mouth is.”- H/T Ringside News

With Survivor Series drawing close, it remains to be seen if Cena will be able to walk out of his final WWE PLE match as champion.