{"id":125605,"date":"2024-07-09T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=125605"},"modified":"2024-07-08T16:04:20","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T20:04:20","slug":"cena-vs-the-rock-vs-batista-is-it-too-much-to-ask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/07\/09\/cena-vs-the-rock-vs-batista-is-it-too-much-to-ask\/","title":{"rendered":"Cena vs. The Rock vs. Batista: Is It Too Much To Ask?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">J<\/span><\/strong><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ohn Cena<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> will wrestle multiple <strong>WWE<\/strong> matches between now and retiring at the end of \u00a02025. Nothing would grab public attention more than a showdown with his fellow movie stars <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dave Bautista<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock will also lay the smackdown in a WWE ring during that period after laying the groundwork for future matches with <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cody Rhodes<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> and <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Roman Reigns<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, earlier this year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bautista is retired from wrestling. But surely he could be lured back for a fight of such epic proportions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Aligning three of Hollywood\u2019s leading men\u2019s schedules seems impossible. But is it <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">really<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">take a<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> look at the idea of Cena vs. The Rock vs. Batista and weigh up if it <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">really<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is too much to ask.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Why The Match?<\/h3>\n<p>Firstly, why would WWE book Cena vs. The Rock vs. Batista?<\/p>\n<p>Cena has bags of history with both men. But the main reason is WWE could settle an online debate over who is the greatest WWE star to have crossed over to acting.<\/p>\n<p>All three are on a great run of form at the box office. Aligning the schedules and finding a suitable PLE are the two biggest challenges.<\/p>\n<p>So let&#8217;s look at each guy&#8217;s filofax and see if we can get a date in the diary.<\/p>\n<h3>John Cena<\/h3>\n<p>Well, this one is easy. Cena has had arguably his best year with regard to the level of movies he&#8217;s starred in.<\/p>\n<p>He played major roles in satisfying Amazon Prime popcorn flicks <em>Ricky Stanicky<\/em>, <em>Argyle,<\/em> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/25\/summer-movies-starring-wrestlers-a-round-up\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>Die Hart 2: Die Harter<\/em>.\u00a0<\/a>Coming up this summer are <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/07\/03\/john-cena-offers-38k-prize-as-part-of-jackpot-movie-promotion\/\" target=\"_self\">Jackpot!<\/a><\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/25\/summer-movies-starring-wrestlers-a-round-up\/\" target=\"_self\">Coyote vs. Acme<\/a>,<\/em> and <em>Heads of State<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>But Cena has done all his work on those movies. Cena has <em>The Janson Directive<\/em> to shoot but then he&#8217;s free as a bird.<\/p>\n<p>Cena also confirmed he&#8217;s asked to take a break from Hollywood to concentrate on his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/07\/07\/john-cena-announces-retirement-wwe-farewell-tour-for-2025\/\" target=\"_self\">2025 retirement tour<\/a>. Simply put, Cena isn&#8217;t an issue in preventing the Hollywood Triple Threat Showdown.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"John Cena says he will wrestle the entirety of 2025: Money in the Bank 2024 Post-Show highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i4AmDOSEDoo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock&#8217;s Hollywood hiatus to build up to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/07\/the-rock-return-at-wwe-wrestlemania-40\/\" target=\"_self\"><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WrestleMania 40<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> has left him with an eye-watering list of major movies. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Completed and set to be released in November 2024 are the hotly-anticipated sequel <em>Moana 2<\/em> and the Christmas action-adventure <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2023\/12\/02\/red-one-the-rock-christmas-movie\/\" target=\"_self\">Red One<\/a><\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock will need to do some serious promo for these movies to see out the year. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then he has the following films to complete: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/16\/the-rock-begins-the-smashing-machine-mma-movie\/\" target=\"_self\">The Smashing Machine<\/a><\/em>, <em>Fast X: Part 2<\/em>, the live-action remake of <em>Moana<\/em>, <em>Big Trouble in Little China<\/em>, <em>San Andreas 2<\/em>, <em>Jungle Cruise 2<\/em>, <em>Doc Savage<\/em>, and another unnamed <em>Fast &amp; Furious<\/em> flick. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dwayne is busy. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He will also almost certainly compete at <\/span><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WrestleMania 41<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in Las Vegas <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">either<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> against Cody Rhodes or <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/01\/23\/the-rock-makes-big-statement-about-potential-wrestlemania-40-match-with-roman-reigns\/\" target=\"_self\">Roman Reigns<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rock being a member of the TKO Board means we will see him in WWE. So despite his busy schedule, The Great One would surely make time for the Threeway Film Fight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Js3i00v7xgQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dave Bautista <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">His ongoing roles in the <em>Dune<\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2022\/05\/26\/summer-2022-movies-starring-wrestlers\/\" target=\"_self\">Gardens of the Galaxy<\/a><\/em> movies have solidified Bautista as a Hollywood megastar. Before the end of 2024, we can expect to see him in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/25\/summer-movies-starring-wrestlers-a-round-up\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>My Spy: The Eternal City<\/em>, <em>The Killers Game<\/em>, <em>In The Lost Lands<\/em><\/a>, and the <em>Army of the Dead: Las Vegas<\/em> TV series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He\u2019s also <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">currently<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> set to star in <em>Aang: The Last Airbender<\/em>, <em>Grendel<\/em>, <em>The Last Showgirl<\/em>, <em>Universe\u2019s Most Wanted<\/em>, <em>Afterburn<\/em>, and <em>Trap House<\/em>. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bautista happily retired from WWE after his <em><strong>WrestleMania 35<\/strong><\/em> showdown with <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Triple H<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">He has shown no interest in returning to the WWE. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">His movie schedule has already prevented him from being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE announced it would bestow the honor of Bautista in 2023 but he still hasn&#8217;t found the time to accept it. <\/span>Bautista&#8217;s schedule and commitment to his movie career means he is the main reason we will probably never get the triple-threat movie stars match.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Follow Batista on his journey to SmackDown 1000: WWE The Day Of\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZNDPBjFkiwE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If Never, When?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On paper, it would seem that such a match could only take place at <\/span><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WrestleMania<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. But The Rock&#8217;s next two <em>WrestleMania<\/em> matches will surely be Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cena&#8217;s final <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/05\/wrestlemania-41s-role-in-las-vegas-growing-sports-culture\/\" target=\"_self\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WrestleMania <\/span><\/em><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">match will be in 2025. It will not be against The Rock and Batista. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without the pressure of a <em>WrestleMania<\/em> main event, Cena vs. The Rock vs. Batista could <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">take place<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> at <em><strong>SummerSlam<\/strong><\/em><strong> 2025<\/strong>. The venue for this event has not been announced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If Bautista&#8217;s schedule is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">truly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> too tight to get back into ring shape, perhaps Cena faces The Rock one last time with Batista as the special guest referee. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The summer is when America goes to the movies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Maybe summer 2025 is when the three biggest movie stars ever to lace up a pair of wrestling boots go to the ring. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">also needs to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> fill the 73,000-capacity U.S Bank Stadium on two consecutive nights in August 2026 for <em>SummerSlam<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This would be the perfect location for Cena vs. The Rock vs. Batista. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But Cena claims he will retire at the end of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/span><\/em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/span><\/em><\/a><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> for more on other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the <\/span><\/em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/watch.wwe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Network<\/span><\/em><\/a><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Peacock<\/span><\/em><\/a><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Cena will wrestle multiple WWE matches between now and retiring at the end of \u00a02025. Nothing would grab public attention more than a showdown with his fellow movie stars The Rock and Dave Bautista. The Rock will also lay the smackdown in a WWE ring during that period after laying the groundwork for future [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3852,"featured_media":125620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[1433,165,550,47],"class_list":["post-125605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-dave-bautista","tag-john-cena","tag-the-rock","tag-wwe"],"modified_by":"Chinyere Okafor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3852"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}