{"id":143814,"date":"2025-10-13T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=143814"},"modified":"2025-10-20T19:40:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T23:40:35","slug":"5-better-opponents-for-john-cenas-wwe-retirement-match-than-gunther","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/10\/13\/5-better-opponents-for-john-cenas-wwe-retirement-match-than-gunther\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Better Opponents for John Cena&#8217;s WWE Retirement Match Than Gunther"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After an exciting match against AJ Styles at the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/10\/11\/wwe-crown-jewel-perth-results-10-11-25-live-updates\/\" target=\"_self\">WWE Crown Jewel<\/a> premium live event, fans are wondering what\u2019s next for John Cena. The Cenation Leader has a handful of dates before his retirement in December later this year, but there are still a few matchups fans would love to see him take part in.<\/p>\n<p>With the way Triple H and Co. have handled Cena\u2019s retirement tour so far, it doesn\u2019t seem like the company planned ahead for how they\u2019re going to give him a proper send-off. His retirement match will happen in two months, but so far, fans know little to nothing about his final match. The latest <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/10\/10\/gunther-vs-john-cena-perfect-wwe-send-off-for-the-cenation-leader\/\" target=\"_self\">rumor suggests Gunther will be the one to face Cena<\/a> on Saturday Night Main Event in Washington, DC, but there are other names who could potentially be better opponents than him.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Gunther will reportedly be John Cena&#8217;s final opponent.<\/p>\n<p>WWE is reportedly planning a tournament with the winning prize being John Cena&#8217;s final opponent.<\/p>\n<p>(Source: Wrestling Observer) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jXU41uxu5g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/jXU41uxu5g<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cultaholic\/status\/1975536774685319382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Dominik Mysterio<\/h2>\n<p>Dominik Mysterio will inevitably retire his father, Rey Mysterio, at some point in his career. Rey is a beloved character within the WWE Universe, and there\u2019s currently no one better suited for this role. However, it doesn\u2019t mean Dominik can\u2019t face other big stars and potentially even be their final opponent.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s put in a lot of effort over the past few years to improve his work, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/10\/07\/heres-why-wwe-must-book-john-cena-vs-dominik-mysterio\/\" target=\"_self\">putting him up against Cena<\/a> would be a great way to give him nuclear heat.<\/p>\n<h2>Bron Breakker<\/h2>\n<p>Bron Breakker vs. John Cena would be another fun match, but Breakker doesn\u2019t want it to happen. Now, it\u2019s simply because Breakker doesn\u2019t think Cena could manage to survive a match against him. While speaking with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/MuscleManMalcolm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Muscle Man Malcolm\u2019s Muscle Memory<\/a> podcast, Breakker said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI just don\u2019t think it\u2019s very wise for John Cena. A lot of things have changed since SummerSlam. I know this is his farewell tour, and everyone\u2019s celebrating the last year of John Cena, but if he wants to make it to the end of that year or make it to the end of this run, he probably should just stay away from me.\u201d (H\/T <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sescoops.com\/news\/wwe\/bron-breakker-warns-john-cena\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SEScoops<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>One could say Breakker needs this match more than other wrestlers mentioned here, but then again, there\u2019s no reason (storyline-wise) for Breakker and Cena to fight. They could always do a one-on-one matchup between them (like they did with Austin Theory) but that wouldn\u2019t really benefit anyone because there\u2019s no story.<\/p>\n<h2>Drew McIntyre<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s surprising that John Cena and Drew McIntyre have never faced each other in a singles match to date. Last year, McIntyre did say he\u2019d try to set up a match between them, but so far, nothing has happened.<\/p>\n<p>The Scottish Warrior doesn\u2019t need the rub from Cena anymore, but he\u2019s one of the best wrestlers out there, and there\u2019s no doubt he will be a menacing heel against Cena and will certainly make his final storyline a must-see.<\/p>\n<h2>Edge<\/h2>\n<p>This is perhaps the unlikeliest scenario to happen in WWE. But it\u2019s also a match that fans want to see the most. The Rated R Superstar has a long history with Cena, and was one of his best rivals in the mid-2000s. Some reports say that Edge\u2019s AEW contract is coming up this month, and if this is true, then he could probably jump ship to WWE again and face Cena.<\/p>\n<p>Although Edge has suggested that <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/wrestling\/wwe-legend-adam-copeland-reveals-wrestling-retirement-deadline-2066461\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">his AEW deal expires in 2026<\/a> instead of this year, during an appearance on <a  href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/adam-copeland-on-the-battle-of-ontario-being\/id969188998?i=1000705407454\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">First Up with Korolnek &amp; Colaiacovo<\/a>. So there\u2019s a slim chance WWE and AEW could partner up and loan Edge for one final match against John Cena.<\/p>\n<h2>The Rock<\/h2>\n<p>WWE never really had a payoff to the whole John Cena joining The Final Boss saga they did earlier this year. No, really, why did Cena turn heel to help The Rock? There&#8217;s still time to return to this story, and if it could end with a match between these two, then fans would probably stop complaining about it.<\/p>\n<p>The Rock and John Cena had a legendary rivalry over 15 years ago, and they could very well recreate the magic again in 2025. Both stars have a long history with each other, and fans also wouldn&#8217;t mind if they got to see them tussle it out in the ring one last time. This is the kind of big match that Cena needs to end his career with.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_143896\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-143896\" style=\"width: 548px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-143896\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/10\/640px-The_Rock_vs_John_Cena-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"Image of John Cena vs. The Rock in the WWE\" width=\"548\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/10\/640px-The_Rock_vs_John_Cena-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/10\/640px-The_Rock_vs_John_Cena.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-143896\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Simon from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Rock_vs_John_Cena.jpg#\/media\/File:The_Rock_vs_John_Cena.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><b>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><i>Header photo \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:John_Cena_at_Raw,_Miami,_2_April_2012_(7236548528).jpg#\/media\/File:John_Cena_at_Raw,_Miami,_2_April_2012_(7236548528).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WikiMedia Creative Commons<\/a> \u2013 Stay tuned to the <\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\"><em><u><i>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i> for more on the WWE Crown Jewel Perth, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, and 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.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><i>You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/title\/81788927\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usanetwork.com\/wwe-friday-night-smackdown\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cwtv.com\/shows\/wwe-nxt\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/tubitv.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>A&amp;E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/events\/1773457579022155776?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After an exciting match against AJ Styles at the WWE Crown Jewel premium live event, fans are wondering what\u2019s next for John Cena. The Cenation Leader has a handful of dates before his retirement in December later this year, but there are still a few matchups fans would love to see him take part in. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5645,"featured_media":143891,"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":[4,3],"tags":[7986,6530,686,328,165,9001,550],"class_list":["post-143814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-bron-breakker","tag-dominik-mysterio","tag-drew-mcintyre","tag-edge","tag-john-cena","tag-john-cena-retirement","tag-the-rock"],"modified_by":"Marilee Gallagher, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143814","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\/5645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143814"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144408,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143814\/revisions\/144408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}