John Cena Gets “Thank You Cena” Chants From Chicago Crowd In His Final Promo On WWE SmackDown
John Cena opened the September 5th episode of WWE SmackDown, making his last appearance on the blue brand as an active in-ring competitor.
Cena received a “Thank You Cena” chant and he noted that he didn’t always get those chants in Chicago, and was thankful for them. He said that he’s given it all during his retirement tour and that the crowd has been with him through all the ups, downs, and pivots.
He praised the crowd, saying their chants brought people back, leading to an “AJ Lee” chant.
He then reflected on his history in Chicago, saying he made his SmackDown debut in the Allstate Arena, wrestled Triple H, lost to CM Punk, and more. He said there is an argument as to who the greatest crowd in WWE is, but for him, there is no argument.
"Tonight, I'm just gonna take it in."
Tonight means everything to @JohnCena! 👏 pic.twitter.com/22wjnZEfpq
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
The crowd once again chanted “Thank You Cena” and Cena thanked the crowd, telling them to enjoy the night.
Before Cena could leave, he was interrupted by Sami Zayn, who thanked Cena and said he wanted to institute the Sami Zayn US Title Open Challenge in honor of Cena. Cena gave him his blessing.
Fans can find Fightful’s coverage of WWE SmackDown here. Check out the post-show podcast for a full review here.
