Overview
- On the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Cena said the original plan had him win his 17th world title before a restart returned the championship to Roman Reigns.
- He recounted that WWE finalized Lesnar’s return around 5 p.m. the day of the show, after which talent relations told him the finish would switch to a clean Reigns victory.
- Cena said he conferred with Reigns and Paul Heyman, proposing a decisive end with a single Spear to reinforce Reigns’ momentum.
- Lesnar returned after the match to confront Reigns and attack Cena, later winning the WWE Championship and facing Reigns in a title-versus-title main event at WrestleMania 38, which Reigns won.
- The pivot preserved Reigns’ run that stretched to 1,316 days, while Cena did not reach his 17th reign until WrestleMania 41 and retired in December 2025 after losing to Gunther.