By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

-- Sports Illustrated covered last night's Gillette event in New York with WWE champion John Cena, NBA star Tony Parker, and ESPN reporter Erin Andrews on-hand.

Cena was asked to name the Top 5 most memorable moments in pro wrestling history. In a nod to trying to promote the current WWE product, Cena ranked the NXT Invasion angle #4 on his all-time list.

Cena called it a "shot in the arm for WWE programming" and said he was "very impressed" with the NXT Rookies even though they "beat my ass."

Cena ranked Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III his #1 moment, followed by Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania 18, the series of Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker matches, the NXT Invasion angle, then the Four Horsemen assembling.

Link: John Cena interview on SportsIllustrated.com.

-- Cena also commented more on the Bryan Danielson situation in an interview with Tom Herrera of Fanhouse.com. Cena said he believes Danielson's release is legit, but he doesn't understand it.

"It was something that I don't understand. It's something that a lot of people are upset about," Cena said. "This is one of those things where ... you know, WWE is a business, and they chose to make a business decision. I think what is right for the WWE Universe to do is show that they have a bit of power."

Cena said WWE "made a business decision" releasing Danielson, but "at the same time, they can't deny good business. So if you get 200,000 consumers saying, 'Listen, we'd like to see this person on television,' I don't think the bean counters are gonna ignore the potential dollar signs."

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