John Cena Recounts His Pitch To Triple H To Have NXT Talent On Saturday Night’s Main Event

Some NXT stars will be in action on Saturday Night’s Main Event before John Cena’s last match, and Cena recently detailed the pitch he made to Triple H for the idea. As noted, next Saturday’s Peacock special will feature NXT talent against main roster stars. The matches will be “exhibition matches,” and Cena spoke about his vision for the concept on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

Cena noted that he made the pitch in part because he didn’t want the whole show to be a full tribute to him. Instead, he called Triple H and pitched it as a way to get younger talent on the show. You can see the highlights below:

On Making His Pitch For Putting NXT Talent On the Show:

“In trying to create the atmosphere for the last match, folks in creative were like, ‘Hey, we want to do like this tribute thing.’ And I — I never booked myself, but I called Triple H. And I said, ‘I have an idea. You’ll know how to do this, because I don’t know how to write television. But I think if we do a tribute show, one of two things are going to happen. It’s either going to be too much or too little, which means it’s not going to be good. Why don’t we take Saturday Night’s Main Event. Everyone knows it’s John Cena’s last match. The video packages, you want to trickle in there throughout the night, no problem. Then we go to the match, have the match, that’s the night.’

“‘But beforehand, on a night I know people are going to be tuning in. We’re going to have a sold out [show]. It’s going to be definitely an item, a ticket you want to have in your hand. And that last piece of of relevant energy that I can get an audience member to tune into. Show the future of your business. Have top name WWE superstars. CM Punk, Charlotte Flair — you put it together how you want. Have them have non-canon exhibition matches with the future of the business. Bring kids up from NXT. Get them in a building with real noise, with real energy. Let him get under the bright lights. Maybe, just maybe, like, [they’ll think] ‘I want to be here.’ You know what I’m saying? And they get to to wrestle people with experience and wisdom, and in non-canon, exhibition matches, where nothing’s on the line. It’s just a chance to see — it’s a chance to hear the music of your favorite superstars against someone, you have no idea.

On Triple H’s Reaction:

“And he said, ‘That’s a great idea.’ And they’re going to do it, I have no clue what the plan is. But I know it’s — that’s how I want to go out. I want the people who are tuning in for me to be like, ‘Yeah, but did you see that other kid? I’m watching next Monday because he’s awesome, or she’s awesome.’ Like, what a better way to tip the cap and try to try to keep keep the thing going?”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Bill Simmons Podcast with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.