In the final moments of Cena vs. GUNTHER, “The Ring General” cinched in multiple sleeper holds, which Cena repeatedly fought through. Eventually, though, Cena was so worn down that he tapped out to the submission with a smile on his face, seemingly accepting his fate.

Rather than taping out, Jarrett believes Cena and WWE would have been better served by him passing out to the sleeper hold. “I think you would have at least gotten a lot closer down that road in that he didn’t give up, the referee made a call,” Jarrett said. “You can’t do an Arnold Skaaland and throw in the white towel, but it takes it off of John and the smile. I still haven’t heard anything that makes me go, ‘Oh, that’s why he smiled.’ Insider of all insider, and maybe they’re going to cover it on the Netflix show [WWE Unreal], I don’t know what that payoff is, but the smiling and they had just done the sleeper spot like he came to life and then all of a sudden he grins and taps. It’s such an emotional disconnect.”

Following his loss to GUNTHER, Cena thanked the WWE Universe at Saturday Night’s Main Event, while also noting his joy in performing for them for 25 years. Meanwhile, GUNTHER reveled in the boos that followed him to “WWE Raw,” where he reiterated the significance and implications of Cena submitting to him.

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