WWE Extreme Rules 2012 Results: John Cena Says He's Taking Time off After Match

John Cena defeated Brock Lesnar in a brutal fight at Extreme Rules 2012, but the top superstar in the WWE may have paid the ultimate price.

In a post-match victory speech, Cena stated that he will be taking time off from the company. At this time, it isn't clear whether or not this was a planned break or vacation, but he did suggest that hurt his left arm and will be out for an extended period of time. 

Pro Wrestling Report tweeted what the world heard in the post-match speech.

"

John Cena tells the crowd that he is taking time off and will be away for a while.

— Pro Wrestling Report (@PWRshow) April 30, 2012"

Lesnar destroyed and manhandled Cena throughout the match. He put Cena in multiple submission maneuvers and busted him open early in the match with an elbow to the head. In the final minutes of the match, Lesnar once again had Cena in a variation of an armbar, but Cena was able to pick Lesnar up and slam him down onto the steel steps to break the hold.

Cena ultimately won with an Attitude Adjustment move on the steel steps in a shocking victory. At no point during the match did it seem like Cena was legitimately hurt, though he was selling the repeated armbars towards the end of the match.

Granted, Cena is one of the toughest in the business. If there was anybody who would risk his arm to continue and finish a match, it would be Cena. At this point, there's no word on whether or not this is a legitimate injury or just a planned storyline—that's the beauty of WWE and professional wrestling as a whole.

We'll have to keep a close eye on the situation, as Cena missing time would be devastating for WWE and the wrestling industry overall, whether it was part of an injury angle or a planned break.

Cena is the biggest draw in wrestling and brings the most out of each and every crowd. We can only hope Cena returns quickly after his extended leave.  

For the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio featuring ECW legends New Jack and “Franchise” Shane Douglas and all the 2012 WWE Extreme Rules talk you could want, catch it here! (Some language NSFW).