WWE fans may be waiting for John Cena’s upcoming match vs. AJ Styles at Crown Jewel on October 11, but Triple H and Co. have reportedly finalized the opponent for Cena’s final WWE encounter scheduled for December 13.
A few hours ago, Dave Meltzer from Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online reported that the WWE brass had elected Gunther as the opponent for Cena’s retirement match later this year.
Meltzer’s F4WOnline colleague, Bryan Alvarez, relayed his report on YouTube, along with revealing that one of the subsequent WWE shows will feature Triple H announcing a tournament to elect Cena’s final rival. His comments indicated that Gunther will come out on top to lock horns with Cena. (via F4WOnline on YouTube)
Two sources have confirmed that the latest plan is for a tournament to be announced, possibly on the air by Paul Levesque, with top wrestlers vying to be Cena’s last opponent. Multiple have confirmed, however, Gunther was the person chosen for the match.
Meltzer’s revelation may have triggered shockwaves in the WWE community, but it isn’t expected to bother Cena, given the 48-year-old’s attitude towards his opponent for his final WWE showdown.
John Cena’s Comments About His Final Opponent
The hype surrounding Cena’s retirement tour in the WWE community speaks volumes about his massive stature among fans. Cena’s relentless dedication to his craft is one of the primary reasons behind his evolution into one of the most noted WWE stars ever.
After an over-two-decade-long career in the WWE, it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that Cena has the authority to pick his opponents according to his wish. However, the Cenation star never chooses to exercise this authority.
The 48-year-old visited the Fan Expo in Boston on September 15, where he was asked about the opponent for his final WWE match. Cena replied that he would accept anyone as his rival, since he didn’t want to “pick” one.
I’ve been doing this for 23 years, and I’ve never once chosen my opponents. I’ve always lived by the philosophy that life will deal you opportunities every single day, and [you can] do the best you can every single day with what life gives you. So whoever challenges me for that last one, I’m going to give it my best shot. So, I don’t want to pick an opponent.
Check out Cena’s comments below:
With Gunther reportedly being Cena’s final WWE opponent, many fans may have started speculating how the match will play out. But will the 38-year-old actually be Cena’s last WWE rival? Or will the Cenation star come out of his retirement later to return to the ring like Ric Flair and Edge?
Ric Flair’s Thoughts About John Cena’s WWE Return After Retirement
While lots of WWE stars, including Trish Stratus, have appeared inside the ring for one-off matches at PLEs, there aren’t many like Ric Flair, who returned to a full-time role in the WWE after declaring retirement.
In a five-day-old interview with Escapist Magazine, The Nature Boy assessed the chances of Cena’s WWE comeback following his retirement later this year. However, the Cenation star’s fans may be disappointed to know that Flair doesn’t want Cena to return to the WWE, given his healthy earnings from Hollywood projects and other ventures.
John is making so damn much money in the movies right now. He doesn’t need to do anything else. I hope that he’ll walk away and stay away. [But] wrestling is very addictive. When you’ve done it as long as John has, over 20 years, it’s hard to change your way of life.
Flair’s final words may give Cena’s fans hope about watching him perform even after he declares his retirement later this year. But do you think the 17-time world champion will return as a full-timer after announcing his retirement later this year? Let us know in the comments below.
