John Cena’s in-ring days are fast coming to an end following the WWE legend’s decision to end his wrestling career in 2025.
The 16-time former world champion announced at last weekend’s Money in the Bank Premium Live Event in Canada that next year will be his last between the ropes.
It means he’ll begin a farewell tour of sorts, confirming his aim is to feature across ’30 or 40’ dates over the course between next January and December.
As such, he’ll likely feature in a final Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series should that come to fruition – and of course a last appearance at a WrestleMania.
Mania 41 comes from Las Vegas in 2025 and, no sooner had Cena made the announcement about stepping away from the active spotlight, speculation began to bubble as to who might get the honour of facing the legend at the Show of Shows.
The list of candidates to oppose Cena across the year is likely to be lengthy, but it’s not unreasonable to expect it will be a select pool from which WWE will handpick any possible WrestleMania 41 foe.
If the veteran’s recent record – and a widespread wrestling tradition – is anything to go by, he’ll use the platform to elevate the career and standing of an emerging talent.
For instance, his last match at WrestleMania came in 2023 when he unsuccessfully challenged upstart Austin Theory in a United States Championship match, Theory netting easily the biggest win of his career thus far at Cena’s expense.
Later that year, at November’s Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, Cena was beaten by Solo Sikoa, the rising talent since going on to become the de facto leader of The Bloodline and work a rivalry with Cody Rhodes.
In discussing WrestleMania rivals for Cena come next Spring, there are an number of up-and-comers fans feel would make worthy opposition.
In a poll from Pro Wrestling Torch that’s garnered more than 200 votes on the subject, Logan Paul has picked up seven percent of the voting at the time of writing, while speed merchant Bron Breakker has five percent.
Though hardly a pup just starting out, Gunther is slowly continuing a momentous rise through the ranks in WWE that’s seen him go from holding the NXT UK Champion to challenging Damien Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam next month.
The Ring General features strongly in the poll results with 14 percent but, surprisingly, it’s two relative WWE veterans leading the way to face Cena in the eyes of voters.
Having made crystal clear his intention to wrestle Cena once again, CM Punk has 16 percent of the current votes.
The Chicago native said shortly after Cena’s retirement announcement: “I’m proud of him, he gets to go out on his terms, and I know that’s important.
“I’m looking forward to what he does, and I’ve told him that if it’s going to be one more time, we gotta do it at least one more time.”
Ahead of Punk, however, is another WWE mainstay in Randy Orton who currently leads the way in the poll with a sizable 25 percent.
The Viper and Cena have traded blows in many a match over the years thanks to a storied rivalry, and Orton himself is enjoying a career renaissance of sorts having missed 18 months of action due to a serious injury.
While it still seems more likely than not that WWE would use the enormous platform that is John Cena’s last WrestleMania match to give a shining light to a talent that needs such a moment more than Orton, it’s hard to imagine a match fans might enjoy more.
44-year-old Orton himself has been an active WWE star since 2000, winning 14 world championships, two Royal Rumbles and a Money in the Bank.