Michael Cole Issues ‘Apology In Advance’ Of John Cena’s Final WWE Match

Michael Cole has issued an “apology in advance” of John Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, warning that his commentary will be biased and emotional for his friend’s WWE farewell.

The legendary 17-time world champion John Cena will wrap up his 23-year in-ring career tonight at Saturday Night’s Main Event, as he gets one-on-one with “The Ring General” GUNTHER in Washington D.C.

Among the tributes to Cena on social media, WWE veteran commentator Michael Cole shared an emotional statement on the impact Cena has had on his career and life across the last 23 years.

Posting a video to Twitter, Cole said:

“For Gordon Solie, the legendary wrestling commentator it was The American Dream Dusty Rhodes. For my predecessor Jim Ross it was Stone Cold Steve Austin. For me it was the Greatest of All Time John Cena. “Wrestlers who dominated their generation, allowing us the honor of providing the soundtracks for our generation.

“There are three words which have defined John Cena’s career and frankly his life. And these three words have strengthened me, possessed me, imbued me, throughout my journey in this business.

“Hustle: an immeasurable drive to be the best. To have just missed a handful of shows in 30 years. The most important thing to me when I finally wrap all of this up will be my work ethic. “Loyalty: blind faith, sometimes to a fault, but I’ll never ask for forgiveness. This company is where I grew into the man I am today.

“Respect: treat everyone the same no matter their position and to spend countless years helping other announcers reach peak levels without once worrying about my spot.

“John Cena has meant everything to me. My career will forever be entwined with the “Greatest of All Time” only because I was in the right place, at the right time. I can’t believe that later tonight will be the final time my long-time friend will step into a WWE ring. The final time I will say: ‘AA’, ‘STF’, ‘Five Knuckle Shuffle’, ’17-time world champion’”.

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Cole would then “apologize in advance” of Saturday Night’s Main Event, warning that he will not refrain from showing his emotion and biases towards Cena during his final match:

“I apologize in advance because I will be bias tonight. I apologize in advance because I will be extremely emotional tonight. But I will ask for no acquittal when I scream at the top of my lungs ‘One final time, the Greatest of All Time John Cena'”.

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

You can view Michael Cole’s full tribute to Cena in video form down below this news story.

To find out what WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker had to say in his tribute to Cena follow this link here.

It has been the honor of my life to be the soundtrack to @JohnCena’s career. My friend, you are truly the GOAT! This one’s for you… pic.twitter.com/3ixwmRGH3N

— Michael Cole (@MichaelCole) December 13, 2025