3. AJ Styles vs. John Cena (Crown Jewel, 2025)
Following John Cena’s crushing loss to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, many fans were left wondering who he would face next on his retirement tour. Despite having no live appearances until Crown Jewel, Cena used social media to promote his next move, calling out AJ Styles for one final match. Triple H eventually gave his approval, setting the stage for their final showdown.
This matchup didn’t disappoint, as fans were engaged from start to finish. Both combatants treated this final encounter as a “love letter” to professional wrestling and a heartfelt thank you to all the fans.
Cena utilized the signature moves of several legends, most notably Randy Orton’s RKO, Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail, The Miz’s Skull Crushing Finale, and The Undertaker’s Tombstone Piledriver. Styles countered by hitting Sting’s Scorpion Death Drop, Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music, and even Samoa Joe’s Coquina Clutch.
The two never left the ring for the entire 27-minute bout, which was something that they had done before in their bout at the Royal Rumble eight years prior. The match was so exceptional that fans in the arena, as well as the commentators, never wanted it to end.
The finish was incredible: Cena delivered “The Deadman’s” iconic Tombstone Piledriver, then followed up with one final Attitude Adjustment to win their legendary last showdown. The storytelling, the nostalgia, and their emotional post-match embrace signalled the true end of an era.
