In a chaotic, nostalgia-filled match, John Cena retained the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Backlash 2025 in St. Louis, defeating longtime rival Randy Orton.
With interference from R-Truth affecting the outcome, Cena achieved a disputed victory, signalling a possible conclusion to their long-standing rivalry and reinforcing his status as champion.
The match began with a respectful handshake, quickly escalating into a brutal showcase of signature moves. Orton delivered his classic stomps and countered an Attitude Adjustment into an RKO, while Cena unleashed shoulder tackles and a Five Knuckle Shuffle.
The St. Louis crowd roared as the duo traded near-falls, with Orton dodging a Punt Kick and Cena evading a retaliatory strike. A referee bump and ringside chaos, including an RKO through a table, heightened the drama.
R-Truth rushed the ring as the match peaked, defending Cena, his “childhood hero.” Orton landed an RKO on Truth, but the distraction allowed Cena to deliver a low blow and strike Orton with the title belt, securing the pin amid mixed crowd reactions. Cena closed the night atop the ropes, declaring himself “the last real champion,” cementing his defiant legacy.
Cena and Orton’s decades-long rivalry, rooted in iconic battles, brought nostalgia to Backlash 2025. The match’s intensity and R-Truth’s unexpected role underscored WWE’s storytelling prowess, keeping fans on edge. While Orton’s loss halts his 15th world title pursuit, Cena’s victory reinforces his status as a wrestling legend, with potential new feuds looming.
