Triple H Responds to Negative Crowd Backlash Over John Cena’s Loss at 12/13 WWE SNME Show

Saturday’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show in Washington, D.C. featured Gunther defeating John Cena in Cena’s retirement match. This match was notable for the crowd chanting “bullshit” and booing WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque when he came out to the ring with others for the post-match retirement tribute for Cena.

BROOO THE CROWD IS BOOING THE HELL OUT OF TRIPLE H 😭#SNME pic.twitter.com/aIGQC48oHV

— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) December 14, 2025

Following the show, WWE held a post-show that featured Levesque as one of the guests. The crowd continued booing and chanted vulgarities at Levesque when he came out to the stage, which resulted in WWE lowering the crowd audio throughout his appearance. Besides the negative response, several in the crowd also started chanting “AEW” at Levesque over their frustration over the booked ending to the show.

Fans were chanting A E Dub during the WWE post-show while Triple H was on the panel. pic.twitter.com/inHVlc9Gm3

— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) December 14, 2025

During his portion of the post-show, Levesque gave his thoughts about Cena’s loss at the show, the negative reaction towards him, and his reason for the booking decision for it.

“I’m actually mildly disappointed. I thought it would be louder.

There are time-honored traditions in our business, and there are ways you handle your business. John has said the right thing his entire career, that it’s about leaving this place better than you found it. There is no way for people to understand that in the moment. You do what is right for the business. You do what is right for the industry. John has done that his entire career. I’m going to do that for my entire career. I will do what I believe is right for this business. It is what it is. I understand that is tough for people to understand. It’s part of what we do. That is the role we have chosen.

If you were to say, ‘What will Cena do on his way out?’ Take the emotion out of it and ask people, ‘What will John Cena do?’ I’m not talking about the character. His entire career, sum that all up and say, ‘What will he do on the way out?’ If you want to talk behind the scenes. He will put over somebody on the way out. He will leave this better than he found it. He will go in the ring and make somebody on his way out. That’s what John does and has always done. I know people will criticize this and look at it and talk about this moment right here. I’ve got big shoulders, I’m good with it.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com