NEW YORK CITY – In honor of Raw’s 25th Anniversary and WWE’s more than 30-year impactful partnership with Make-A-Wish, Superstars and wish kids celebrated at Hard Rock Café New York in Times Square on Monday.
Nine current and two former wish kids and teens gathered to meet John Cena, Sasha Banks, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H, Make-A-Wish President and CEO David Williams and more Superstars at Hard Rock before heading to the Barclays Center and the Manhattan Center for a historic Monday Night Raw.
“You are the most important part of what we do,” Stephanie told the Make-A-Wish kids. “WWE’s mission is to put smiles on people’s faces the world over. When we have the opportunity to meet kids like you and to see the smiles on your faces, that’s just about the best present we could ever receive.”
WWE and Cena, who has granted more than 550 wishes, also honored longtime employee and Make-A-Wish supporter Sue Aitchison with a surprise $10,000 donation to Make-A-Wish in her honor.
Cena was also surprised by returning wish kid Nick “The Stitch” earlier in the morning on NBC’s “TODAY,” where Cena was a guest co-host.