John Cena to have his final WWE match against 4-time World Heavyweight Champion, analyst says
John Cena surprisingly announced his retirement tour at the recently concluded Money in the Bank premium live event, which will culminate in December 2025. Wrestling analyst Sam Roberts stated that Cena needs to face Randy Orton in his final match in WWE.
The Cenation Leader and The Viper have engaged in multiple legendary feuds, with their last singles match taking place on SmackDown, back in 2017. While Orton has continued his run in the Stamford-based promotion, Cena transitioned to a successful career in Hollywood and has made sporadic appearances in WWE in recent years.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Notsam Wrestling Podcast, Sam Roberts felt that Cena shouldn't come face-to-face with Randy Orton before the duo's potential clash against each other in The Cenation Leader's last match.
"I really feel like John Cena's last match should be against Randy Orton. I don't think the two should touch at all [until Cena's final match], and at the very end, the end of December [2025], maybe there is a special premium live event...You can do a special premium live event that is simply called 'Thank you John,'" said Sam Roberts. [22:15 - 22:40]
He also predicted that 16-time WWE World Champion would put over Orton, and ride off "into the distance":
"The main event of this show is John Cena vs. Randy Orton. One last time. And that's where we get to say goodbye to John Cena. John Cena, of course, like the champ that he is, goes out on his back. Randy Orton wins. We prop him up and John Cena gets to ride off into the distance," he added. [22:41 - 23:03]
Former WWE writer gives an interesting take on John Cena's announcement
While speaking on a recent edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's Legion of RAW, Vince Russo claimed that Cena could be "bowing out" of WWE as he is a "Vince McMahon guy."
Russo further added that he might not like working under Triple H and Shawn Michaels, and ultimately might not fit into The Game's regime.
"I think Cena and Taker, from what I gather, were probably the two talents closest to Vince. That's what I could take away... So I think Cena could be bowing out because Cena was a Vince McMahon guy. Cena might not like working under the great regime of Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Cena's made it clear bro. We even heard stories, he was at Vince's birthday dinner, remember all that stuff? So Cena may be a guy that's not big into the Triple H regime." [From 11:35 onwards]
The Cenation Leader's retirement tour announcement has sent shockwaves across the pro wrestling world, and it remains to be seen how he is booked in his farewell run in WWE.