With the end of John Cena’s retirement tour in sight, talk about who will face him in his final match is heating up. On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Cena addressed the speculation and made it clear he won’t be handpicking the person who retires him.
Cena said his career has always been about doing what’s best for WWE, and that won’t change now. His focus, he explained, is on leaving the company in a strong position for the next generation.
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“No, no. I’ve never operated like that. I’ve just always kind of been reliable, showing up, and doing whatever I’m asked. And I really want this tour to be, not only special… I want it to be special for the business. My goal has always been to leave WWE better than I found it. So whoever they deem appropriate to get that energy, man, I’m cool with that.”
His comments push back against hints from Triple H that Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam return was tied to a possible final match with Cena. Speaking to the Boston Herald, Cena repeated that he’ll “play the cards that he’s dealt,” reinforcing his reputation as a company-first performer.
Cena also admitted that the decision to retire is partly due to the wear of a long career.
“I feel a little bit slower. I’m not as strong as I was. For me, it’s time.”
Only 11 matches remain on his farewell tour, with the last one expected in December at Saturday Night’s Main Event in his hometown of Boston. WWE is considering shifting the date to avoid clashing with AEW Worlds End, but the choice of opponent will rest entirely with the creative team.
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