In deeper assessing the GUNTHER-Cena match, The Miz pointed out that the sleeper hold is usually, and ironically, slept on as a finisher. Amidst WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, however, most fans and pundits seemed highly tuned into it due to GUNTHER’s intensity and its implications on Cena’s famous slogan of “Never Give Up.”

“When GUNTHER puts on a sleeper, you believe. Anything that GUNTHER does, you believe,” Miz said. “He is the exact person that John Cena should have [wrestled] because of this [series of boos].

“Think about John Cena’s career for just one second,” Miz continued. “Who did he always go out against? The biggest, baddest heel, the guy that is getting booed out of the building. That is who super Cena went against, and normally, he would beat them. Then [the fans] would be like ‘Oh, John Cena, he beats everybody. I cannot stand it, super Cena.’ Now what happens? John Cena did the right thing. He tapped out, he gave up to GUNTHER.”

Following his loss to GUNTHER, Cena is now officially retired from in-ring competition, with this status being further solidified by WWE moving him to the alumni section of its website. The Miz preceded Cena’s final match in a segment involving himself, R-Truth, and Joe Hendry that resulted in the latter two hitting Five Knuckle Shuffles while “The A-Lister” lay in defeat.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit WWE with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.