Austin Theory scores huge UPSET win over John Cena to open WrestleMania 39 as the Hollywood star passes the torch to WWE’s next big star in emphatic fashion
Austin Theory and John Cena opened WrestleMania 39 and they certainly weren’t waiting around to crown the new generation.
The pair only went under 10 minutes for the match billed as the GOAT versus the NOW, and it was the latter that pulled off the huge upset win and retain his United States title.
John Cena made his way to the ring with a crowd of Make-A-Wish children for one of the all-time feel good WrestleMania entrances.
The pair battled hard in the early exchanges and Theory managed to crawl his way out of an STF that Cena has used to put many men away.
As Cena hit his five moves of doom and moved towards his Attitude Adjustment finisher, the referee was knocked out as Theory tried to battle free and subsequently, he missed the 25-year-old tapping out to the STF.
Theory would take advantage with a low blow, land the A-Town Down to secure the biggest win of his career thus far – by a mile.
The champion has told SportsMail he grew up idolizing Cena and this was his dream match.
It’s believed that Cena was receptive to the idea of helping make one of WWE’s brightest young stars, as evidenced by the result in California.
Cena has a blossoming schedule to return to in Hollywood, but Theory – a former project of Vince McMahon’s – will use this launchpad for a major push for the rest of 2023.
