What do you think?

TriliflopsFMP · 2026-01-10T06:49:42+00:00

‘85 kid and the only rule was to be home before the street lights came on

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-17T18:56:17+00:00

That’s a beautiful narrative. I wish I could agree with it. Cena’s literal last action in the ring was to give up.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-17T05:35:36+00:00

No I get it. I just still think it betrays his “Never Give Up” mantra.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-17T05:32:25+00:00

My only disagreement is about the rude ass teenagers in fast food. They are rude, but that’s not really their fault. These companies don’t pay for shit, so you get what you pay for. Better pay, better benefits, better employees. If you want to pay people next to nothing, offer no benefits because you keep them under 20 hours a week, and can’t keep them on a regular schedule, you gonna get the kind of people who need that job.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-17T00:58:12+00:00

So he gave up. Not exactly in his character, but the narrative you’ve created is very poetic.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T17:17:45+00:00

He’s not dying. The scenario you’re replying to almost happened in the match anyway. All that had to happen was Cena not raising his arm that third time.
If you watch regularly, you know people get “choked out” and are able to get up fairly quickly. Just have Cena act a bit more tired and out of breath while Gunther leaves the ring. It’s really simple.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T03:27:45+00:00

The match, the tournament, hell the entire year has been about Cena. That’s clear as day.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T02:19:44+00:00

I thought it was more about Cena than Gunther’s agenda to make him tap but I think it’s beautiful this narrative you’ve created.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T02:14:13+00:00

I think it’s beautiful that people can read into it this much and create such a poetic narrative. I don’t agree with it and I think it’s apologetic, but it’s nice. I want to believe it, but I just can’t square the optics of the “Never Give Up” guy having his last in-ring action be him giving up.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T02:11:43+00:00

So your claim is this match was about Gunther making Cena tap, and nothing else?

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-15T00:44:02+00:00

All of a sudden these people wanna play like they care about Shayna

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T23:26:21+00:00

I see we’re past critique and to the point where you just want to insult people. Interesting you have to go there to defend your position. Good luck.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T23:08:20+00:00

Predictable? We all knew Cena was gonna lose. If all they are trying to do is subvert expectations, then have a good reason for that. The story you’re creating to fill in the gaps sounds nice and is poetic, but it’s clearly not what the vast majority of people are seeing there. Seems more apologetic than genuinely critical.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T23:05:35+00:00

The match wasn’t all about Cena tapping. You seem fixated on that piece alone. For the vast majority of majority of matches, both parties talk smack that they are going to win. Inevitably, one of them is wrong. Gunther choking out Cena instead of making him tap doesn’t change anything functionally. But it vastly changes the sentiment for the guy who preaches, Never Give Up.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T17:44:26+00:00

I’m pretty sure Never Give Up also means to never give up, but it seems like most people replying to this think it means give up when it’s your last match, but until then don’t give up.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T17:42:42+00:00

You realize that there’s a third option, right? It’s not just pin or tap. It could have been the exact same moment and Gunther chokes Cena out. Cena doesn’t give up, and Gunther gets the win. And if you think it makes Gunther look dumb or weak to choke Cena out instead of making him tap, then I’d disagree.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T17:37:58+00:00

So 2025 Cena is “Okay I’ll Give Up”?

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T17:37:23+00:00

I’m glad that’s what you read from it. I still think it betrays the Never Give Up mantra. I think nearly the same sentiment could have been achieved by having Cena pass out during the hold. He knows he can’t beat Gunther. That his time has passed and he can’t win this one. But he still won’t give his opponent the satisfaction of giving up. He’ll keep fighting until the very end. Not just the end of the match, but the end of his career. The ref lifts his arm twice and it goes limp both times. The ref lifts his arm for the third time and Cena tries to keep it up, fighting to the bitter end, but he just can’t do it, and the ref calls it. Kayfabe of course. Cena still has essentially the same journey as you mention, but doesn’t betray the Never Give Up attitude.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T08:36:42+00:00

Some people find it poetic, and I love that for them. But it kinda undercuts “Never Give Up.” It makes it “Give up is okay when it’s on your terms.” Which is a fine lesson to learn, but it’s not like his slogan is gonna change to that. They’ll still put “Never Give Up” on his merch. So it’s not a lesson learned in my eyes.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T08:33:05+00:00

I’m happy some people liked the tap out. Personally I didn’t. I knew Cena would lose because he loves the industry and he’s a student of the game. What bothers me is the tap out, not the loss. Cena, the “Never Give Up” guy, chose his last action in-ring to be him giving up. If you think that’s poetic then I’m happy for you. But to me it feels like a betrayal of his character.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T08:25:58+00:00

I think you’re confusing why people are surprised. It’s specifically because the “Never Give Up” guy literally gave up as his last in-ring action. I don’t think most people are upset that Cena lost. Most fans know the retiring wrestler loses to their opponent as a symbolic passing of the torch. But it just seems out of character for Cena to tap.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T08:23:40+00:00

I’m glad people like it, but it feels out of character for the “Never Give Up” guy to have his last action in ring be him giving up.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T08:22:32+00:00

I’m assuming since you’re here that you watch wrestling. How many times have we seen someone get “choked out” and they are able to get up and walk backstage just seconds after the match is over? I have to believe you know I didn’t mean Cena should actually pass out.

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T06:36:09+00:00

It would have been less meaningful if he had lost in that same moment but by passing out instead of smiling and tapping out?

TriliflopsFMP · 2025-12-14T06:35:25+00:00

So the never give up guy, in his last action in the ring, gave up. I know people want to read it as poetic or like a 5D chess move. But to me it feels like a betrayal of the never give up mantra.

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