Backstage News & Notes Following 12/13 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event – 12/13 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event generated significant internal and external attention following John Cena’s retirement match, with numerous backstage notes emerging in the aftermath of the show.

Among those in attendance was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while both Vince McMahon and Donald Trump were notably absent. Sources confirmed that neither McMahon nor Trump was ever expected at the event, and WWE personnel were never briefed to anticipate their presence.

Randy Orton was also not backstage, as he was in Saudi Arabia fulfilling promotional duties for the upcoming Royal Rumble. While there was some disappointment internally that Orton could not be present for Cena’s final match, his absence was fully understood due to his prior commitments.

After the broadcast concluded, Cena remained at the venue for an extended period. He was seen throughout the backstage area taking photos and saying personal goodbyes to numerous coworkers. Several WWE stars chose to watch Cena’s final match from the crowd rather than backstage, including Bayley, CM Punk, and others.

WWE sources remain firm that Cena’s in-ring career is finished, with no current plans to ask him to return for another match. Internally, reaction to the finish of Cena’s bout was mixed. Most members of the creative and booking teams supported the decision, while some talent felt Cena should have gone out with a victory. Those same talents reportedly understood the long-term direction and the reasoning behind Gunther winning. There was no indication of significant backstage anger over the outcome.

Triple H was said to be smiling in Gorilla Position as the finish unfolded and reacted to the crowd’s boos in a similar manner backstage as he later did publicly on camera.

The live crowd reaction toward Gunther was intense enough that he required a legitimate escort out of the building, with multiple fans following him as he exited the venue.

Several moments during the show were described as unplanned, including Cody Rhodes’ emotional ringside interview and portions of Cena’s post-match in-ring sequence.

Looking ahead, CM Punk is expected to work with Bronson Reed, while Cody Rhodes is slated to feud with Drew McIntyre in World Title matches during WWE’s upcoming Holiday and European tours. WWE is also planning Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky vs. Raquel Rodriguez for those same tours.

While Cena is done wrestling, he is still expected to make future WWE appearances both on-screen and behind the scenes, though the scope of his on-camera role remains unclear. One source connected to NBCUniversal noted that this event generated more buzz on Peacock than any WWE show outside of WrestleMania.

Backstage News & Notes Following 12/13 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

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