Vince McMahon’s “Ghost” Haunts John Cena’s Farewell at Saturday Night’s Main Event

Well, it finally happened. The unseen became seen—sort of.

For weeks, the wrestling rumor mill has been churning faster than a blender on overdrive. Would he show up? Would he stay hidden in the shadows? We’re talking, of course, about Vince McMahon. With John Cena hanging up his jorts and sweatbands for good at Saturday Night’s Main Event, speculation ran rampant that the former boss might make a physical appearance to bid adieu to his greatest creation.

Spoiler alert: McMahon didn’t walk down that ramp. But WWE didn’t exactly scrub him from history, either.

Instead, we got a digital visitation. In a tribute video package that aired after Cena tapped out to Gunther (yes, the Ring General actually made Superman quit), McMahon appeared via archival footage. It was a brief flicker of the past in a night dedicated to saying goodbye to the present.

The Elephant In the Room With Vince McMahon (Or Rather, on the Screen)

Let’s be real for a second. Cena has been pretty vocal during his retirement tour about his love for Vince McMahon. He hasn’t shied away from it, even when PR teams probably wished he would. Because of that open loyalty, a lot of folks expected the former Chairman to strut out there, tear a quad (too soon?), and give Cena one last hug in the middle of the squared circle.

But given the current… climate and rotten legacy surrounding McMahon, a live appearance was always going to be a gamble WWE likely wasn’t willing to take. So, they compromised.

The video tribute was a tear-jerker, naturally. It featured the usual suspects: Triple H, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and even Cena’s parents. Tucked in there, among the friends and family, was Vince. Just enough to acknowledge the history, but distant enough to keep the focus on Cena.

A Night Of Farewells and Boos

The night wasn’t just about video screens, though. After Gunther did exactly what he promised—making Cena tap out in the middle of the ring—the atmosphere shifted from shock to celebration. Cena was even smiling while doing it, which makes the whole thing so much worse.

The locker room emptied. You had the current faces of the company, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, hopping in the ring to pay their respects. It was a “passing of the torch” moment, even though Cena’s torch has been flickering for a while now.

Then came the boss. Triple H climbed onto the apron to embrace his old rival-turned-employee. And the crowd? They let him hear it. The boos rained down, perhaps because the fans were still stinging from seeing their hero lose, or maybe just because WWE failed Cena during his final year due to the awful booking. Then again, 2025 has been a terrible year, creatively for WWE. Either way, “The Game” shrugged it off and was laughing.

The Final Curtain Call

It’s weird to think about a WWE without Cena. For two decades, he’s been the constant. Love him or hate him (and boy, did people love to hate him), he was the guy.

Seeing him leave his shoes in the ring is a wrestling tradition that hits hard. It’s the universal sign of “I’m done.” No more “You Can’t See Me” jokes. No more Five Knuckle Shuffles. Just a pair of sneakers left on the canvas.

So, Cena rides off into the sunset (or Hollywood, specifically). Gunther cements himself as the monster we all knew he was. And Vince McMahon? He remains a ghost in the machine—briefly seen, definitely heard about, but ultimately, just a clip in a video package. End of an era, indeed.