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Let's all watch Jon Stewart hit pro wrestler John Cena with a chair

Emily St. James was a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of the A.V. Club.

Behold the man:

Lifelong pro wrestling fan and former Daily Show host Jon Stewart chose the WWE's August 23 "SummerSlam" event to make his return to TV. He hosted the event, but that's not what got wrestling fans talking. While there, he made a heel turn (i.e., became a bad guy) and smacked the always hustling, always virtuous John Cena with a chair.

In the wake of Stewart's vicious treachery, Cena, the man who has granted more Make-a-Wish wishes than any other person in history, summarily lost both WWE championship belts at stake in the match (yes, the WWE has more than one championship belts) to the villainous Seth Rollins, with whom Stewart has had previous beef.

If none of the above made any sense, don't worry. The important thing to remember here is that Jon Stewart followed up his Daily Show stint by hitting a man beloved by children with a chair. And it was perfect television.


Correction: The original version of this article said the WWE only has two championship belts. It actually has three men's singles championship belts. The third, the intercontinental championship belt, is currently held by Ryback. It also said Stewart made his return to "basic cable," when Summerslam technically aired on pay-per-view and the WWE Network streaming service. We have never been happier to make a correction than this one.