WWE presented a Firefly Funhouse match between John Cena and Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 36, but it wasn’t a match. It was a transformative experience.
When pro wrestling is good, it’s GOOD. Like, nothing even compares. And WWE‘s Firefly Funhouse match at WrestleMania 36 was a perfect example of how incredible wrestling can be.
John Cena and Bray Wyatt didn’t have a match in their pre-taped Firefly Funhouse match. No, Wyatt took Cena on an experience, using moments from his career and parodies of different eras of wrestling before eventually hitting the “Sister Abigail” and “Mandible Claw”. So Wyatt, as The Fiend, won, but it leaves us with more questions than answers about Cena’s own future.
Still, Wyatt more than made up for his loss to Cena at WrestleMania six years ago, exacting revenge on a scared, helpless Cena in the most brutal way possible.
And everyone watching at home? Well, we lost our minds at ALL the golden moments. Bray Wyatt using Nikki Bella’s theme song to mock Cena swinging and missing at him? Check. An Eric Bischoff impersonation? Check. The scary Vince McMahon “devil” doll? CHECK.
WWE Twitter – including Big E, because we ALWAYS need to know what E thinks at a time like this – lost their minds. In the best way possible.
I will never forget this. I can never forget this. #WrestleMania
— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) April 6, 2020
Nobody can. It’s not possible to forget, and we will be reliving it for years and years to come.
Firefly Fun House is the best wrestling match that definitely isn't a wrestling match that I've ever seen. #WrestleMania
— Adam Pacitti (@adampacitti) April 6, 2020
Hands down. If Dave Meltzer doesn’t give it 20 stars, we’re switching to rating wrestling matches by throwing darts at a board, which is incidentally how some wrestling promotions book the ordrer of their matches at shows.
Bray using Cena's 'overhyped, privileged' promo against him as he secures the win...
— Alex McCarthy (@AlexMcCarthy88) April 6, 2020
YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT WASN'T GREAT. #WrestleMania
Hearing those words blare as Wyatt ended Cena was iconic.
Another wonderful take from Wrestle Features. The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles “Boneyard Match” blew us away on Night 1 of WrestleMania 36, and WWE even topped that on Sunday with Cena vs. Wyatt. We need more of these kinds of matches in the coming years, because they are absolutely genius and represent the best of what wrestling can be.
It’s a rare yet nice feeling to be inspired, shaken, damaged and jolted from your comfort zone by art #WrestleMania
— ecIII (@therealec3) April 6, 2020
One day, EC3 will get his chance to do this with John Cena. One day.
A lot of wrestling history in #FireflyFunhouse to understand the story they were telling via references. I really enjoyed it! Like Taker, Fiend has super natural element opens a lot of creative freedom. Wondering if filmed in the #WWE Warehouse where the vintage props are kept.
— Justin LaBar (@JustinLaBar) April 6, 2020
Remember guys, wrestling is what we make it. FUN. Yes it may have not been everyone’s cup of tea and it was Weird, Crazy and had WTF moments but I was entertained. #FireflyFunhouse
— James Storm (@JamesStormBrand) April 6, 2020
Seeing the way everyone in the industry from writers to wrestlers has reacted to the Firefly Funhouse only seals this match’s legacy. A masterpiece!