It’s not very often we talk about wrestling in a sense of “how the sausage is made” - by that, I mean we try to keep kayfabe alive. You get enough of that online, and the WWE even made a Netflix series about it.
But sometimes a good old-fashioned fantasy booking scenario is something that every wrestling fan undertakes, and certainly, given that John Cena’s final match is scheduled to take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C., now seems like one of those times to slip behind the ringside curtain.
A tournament has been announced by Cena, in which the victor will “earn” the right to face him as his final opponent, kicking off on the November 10 edition of Raw, the retiring superstar even said that some names might not even be part of the company. Take that what you will.
Because we sure have, and included two “outsiders” in our list of 9 potential opponents who could face the record-breaking WWE champion, and get that all-important “rub” either in victory or in defeat.
5. Randy Orton
The final confrontation between the two definitive stars of their generation. Randy Orton is the only superstar whose career and accolades truly match Cena's own. This match requires no storyline—it is the final chapter, the natural conclusion to their 20-year saga. While Orton doesn't "need the rub," this is the most emotionally resonant and safest choice, representing the final, respectful stand between the two greatest rivals of the 2000s and 2010s. | Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
6. Edge/Adam Copeland
The rivalry between Edge and John Cena defined the entire Ruthless Aggression Era. Their chemistry was electric, their moments iconic, and their matches often stole the show. With Cena hinting that his final opponent could be someone outside the current WWE roster, the door is slightly ajar for Edge to return for one final night. This match isn't about building the future; it's about providing closure on the single most defining, era-spanning rivalry of Cena's career. | Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
7. Gunther
Gunther is the dirt-sheet favourite and the best pure wrestling choice. The Intercontinental Champion has established himself as the most legitimate, dominant heel in the company. For the final match to truly build the future, the hero must lose decisively. A crushing victory over John Cena, followed by Cena being stretchered out of the arena, would instantly establish Gunther as a generational, unstoppable threat, providing the necessary momentum and heel heat to define the next five years of WWE. | AFP via Getty Images
8. Oba Femi
If the goal is to build an unstoppable, dominant star, Oba Femi is the perfect choice from the NXT system. Femi possesses a raw, explosive power and main-event physique that presents a physical threat Cena has rarely encountered. A final match against a powerhouse like Femi is a huge statement: the 16-time champion facing the true, athletic future of the business. Even a hard-fought defeat for Cena would instantly establish Femi as the next big force on the main roster, emphasising the generational gap and the ruthless evolution of WWE talent. | Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust