Highlights
With restricted time in his busy schedule for WWE appearances, Cena possible solely has a couple of matches left within the firm.
He may bow out by taking over an outdated rival, equivalent to Randy Orton or Kevin Owens.
Alternatively, the 16-time world champion may face a younger up-and-coming famous person.
John Cena is a WWE legend, with some even calling him the best of all time. Throughout his profession, Cena is a 16-time world champion, five-time United States Champion and has had 4 reigns as a tag workforce champion with 4 completely different companions. On condition that he’s additionally held the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase and gained the Royal Rumble, there actually isn’t a lot Cena hasn’t carried out.
However, he has spent much less and fewer time with WWE in recent times, solely coming again for his most up-to-date run through the Hollywood strikes of 2023. Plus, Cena lately spoke on the Kelly Clarkson Present the place he known as the age of fifty his ‘absolute line within the land’ in relation to stepping away from the ring, so it appears as if we’ve received round three years left of the long-lasting famous person earlier than the definitive conclusion of his profession, though that ending may additionally come a lot sooner.
So, what’s nonetheless left on the desk for the 16-time world champion? Who may very well be given the honour of being his final match? Whether or not it’s an up-and-coming famous person or a rival of his previous, let GIVEMESPORT take you thru seven potential stars who may retire him.
1 Gunther
‘The Ring Normal’ may retire Cena
In latest reminiscence, no one has risen up the ranks in WWE fairly like GUNTHER. Many followers knew him from his time in each NXT and NXT UK, however some had been skeptical over how he’d fare on the primary roster. Admittedly, the rise of Triple H to energy within the promotion helped the Austrian in a inventive sense, however, with over 640 days as Intercontinental Champion, he’s now on the best way to turning into WWE’s subsequent prime attraction and what higher approach to cement him as a number one villain than by having him ship the earlier technology’s hero packing.
Plus, we famous within the introduction that there wasn’t a lot that Cena hasn’t carried out in WWE, however he’s by no means gained the Intercontinental Championship. Think about a feud centering across the 46-year-old’s utter desperation to tick off the final remaining accolade he’s but to attain. Since 2022, GUNTHER has created a degree of status across the Intercontinental Championship that few earlier than him may, and denying Cena his closing aim may very well be excellent to take him to the subsequent degree.
2 Randy Orton
Basic rivalry renewed
If WWE go down the highway of getting a former foe retire Cena, the Boston native maybe had no better rival than Randy Orton. From making their collective debuts in 2002, the pair outlined a technology of wrestling and have become childhood icons for many who grew up glued to their tv screens within the late-2000s and early 2010s. Their seemingly countless rivalry spanned twenty years and included a number of world titles being gained and misplaced.
They’re two of the all-time greats for WWE, however each Cena and Orton are on the tail finish of their respective careers, so maybe one final epic showdown in opposition to one another may very well be a closing outing for the 2 of them. It’d be a bittersweet event, however John and Randy lacing up their boots and going at it one final time earlier than embracing and driving off into the sundown could be a symbolic second that will dwell on for years to return.
3 Kevin Owens
‘The Prizefighter’ has historical past with Cena
Time stood nonetheless when Kevin Owens dared to disrupt John Cena’s US Title Open Problem in 2015. After profitable the championship at WrestleMania 31, the babyface locker room chief would supply title alternatives to anybody courageous sufficient to face face-to-face with the chief of the ‘Cenation’. Nevertheless, when Owens stepped onto the scene, he defied Cena’s problem and acted as if the entire ordeal was beneath him. This gave the Canadian star the proper begin on the primary roster, and he quickly grew to become a principal occasion attraction for the corporate.
Since then, Kevin has proved his value as a face and a heel. It doesn’t matter what avenue they select to discover, WWE couldn’t go far incorrect ought to they match him up with Cena once more – this time with John’s profession on the road. It could be emotionally gripping and would symbolise the evolution of Owens as a performer in WWE.
4 Logan Paul
Cena tangling with the social media star could be an enormous event
Divisive at the perfect of instances, Logan Paul would create much more headlines if he had been to be the person to retire Cena? Coming into the corporate at WrestleMania 37 and having his first match a 12 months later, ‘The Maverick’ has shocked many together with his performances within the ring and definitely doesn’t look misplaced on the WWE roster. He’s solely getting higher, too.
Whether or not it’s as a consequence of his controversial previous or his villainous aspect in WWE, followers already like to hate Logan Paul, so having the social media sensation threaten the profession of Cena after which ship him packing for good would solely amplify the disdain that almost all of viewers have already got for Paul. It may even set the Prime co-owner on the trail in the direction of world championship gold, notably if he stays as dedicated to sports activities leisure as he has been since profitable america Title this previous November.
5 Cody Rhodes
May Cody end Cena’s WWE story for good?
For years, WWE regarded for the subsequent prime babyface star to comply with on from Cena. It took far too lengthy for the promotion to confess defeat of their quest to have Roman Reigns carry the mantle of being their subsequent prime fan favorite into the longer term, and it ceaselessly appeared as if the followers would immediately reject anybody that the corporate had been making an attempt to push as the subsequent John Cena. But, they’ve discovered precisely what they’re searching for in Cody Rhodes.
Coming in from AEW, the place he was relentlessly booed for making an attempt to be an all-conquering hero, Cody was welcomed again to WWE with open arms in 2022. He’s now the highest babyface within the greatest wrestling firm on the planet, very similar to Cena was earlier than him, and so John deciding on Cody for his final match as an indication of respect and the last word passing of the torch would really feel really becoming for the route WWE need to go over the subsequent decade with Rhodes cemented on the helm.
6 Roman Reigns
Cena to face off with ‘The Tribal Chief’ yet another time?
These days, Roman Reigns is an era-defining famous person, however that wasn’t all the time the case. Earlier than his present heel persona, the corporate tried every thing they might to get the followers to take to Reigns as a babyface star however it simply didn’t work. They even paired him up with a few of WWE’s finest to try to get him over, together with the notorious feud between Reigns and John Cena in 2017.
Right here, whereas Roman beat the 16-time world champion in a largely forgettable match, most individuals bear in mind the promos main as much as their conflict which featured Cena breaking the fourth wall and destroying Roman on the microphone, acknowledging that he was a company-driven John Cena bootleg. So, with Reigns’ star-power now being completely inarguable, it might be poetic for Cena to search out himself within the crosshairs of Roman but once more, this time with The Tribal Chief trying to take out John as soon as and for all to place his ‘Large Canine’ shortcomings behind him and transfer ahead as one of many greats.
7 Bron Breakker
Cena may bow out in opposition to considered one of WWE’s brightest younger skills
With a wealth of potential and seemingly a lock to be considered one of WWE’s future stars, lists like these often discover a place for Bron Breakker. When most weren’t proud of the rebranding of NXT in 2021, the second technology performer was somebody who many may look to as a shining mild to return out of NXT 2.0. He instantly confirmed indicators of being a future famous person and was the event model’s prime champion by January of 2022. Now as a daily performer on SmackDown, the sky really is the restrict for the son of WWE Corridor of Famer Rick Steiner
In fact, when pondering of potential candidates to retire Cena, these already established on the primary roster could also be first to return to thoughts, however what in the event that they wished to immediately make a brand new star? Whether or not they proceed his heel persona or return him to his babyface methods, Breakker may overpower Cena and present those that weren’t tuned in each Tuesday night time for NXT that he’s the actual deal by retiring one of many greatest names WWE have had in many years.
