THE NOTORIOUS TAKE

WHO WILL BE JOHN CENA’S FINAL BOSS?

Yes, the headline was in fact meant to answer its own question.

Much speculation has been made as to who John Cena’s final opponent will be at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13, assuming that will actually be the date and location of Cena’s final match.

I find it hilarious that my mere insinuation that it might *not* actually be Cena’s final match, is being criticized on social media. In fact, it seems Cena himself has seen some of us questioning it.

Just days after my latest podcast in which we discussed Cena’s final opponent — and subsequently wondered if there was a major swerve coming, possibly pushing Cena’s final match back to a much larger stage than a Saturday Night’s Main Event — Cena himself made a random post on X that said:

“Despite any speculation or rumors, on July 6, 2024 I announced I would retire from WWE in ring participation. I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value. 12/13/25 will be my final match. I am beyond grateful for every moment WWE has given me. I am excited for 12/13 & look forward to seeing all of you one last time.”

I guess Cena has to say that. But for what reason?

Is it because the WWE wouldn’t be able to sell tickets? That seems kind of crazy. It’s Cena’s Farewell Tour, and his last appearance in D.C., which means they’re coming to see Cena on his way out, whether it’s his final match altogether or his final match in D.C.

Is it because the Peacock network is somehow demanding Cena’s final match be on their streaming service? I highly doubt it, because that would mean Peacock and NBC have some sort of creative control in WWE storylines, and there’s just no way that’s possible.

Or could it be — speaking of storylines — that Cena needed to publicly defend the “value” of his spoken word, because of, you guessed it, an upcoming storyline?

I mean, how many people other than myself were out there questioning the truth of Cena’s claim that Dec. 13 would be his final match? I know I questioned it on my podcast. But I’m definitely in the minority on how I feel about this one. So Cena’s defense of the “value of his word” seems a little random and somewhat unprovoked.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”

That’s not to say I don’t trust John Cena. I trust John Cena wholeheartedly… to be a fantastic storyteller. And in a storytelling business, John Cena is one of the all-time greats — he’s on my Mount Rushmore of Professional Wrestling.

So the idea that there couldn’t be some sort of major swerve surrounding Cena’s Farewell Tour on Dec. 13, is downright laughable. It’s the WWE. The best storylines are the ones that catch us completely off-guard. Do we call them “liars” afterwards? No. We typically react in total shock and embrace the unpredictability of it all. As we should.

To me, it just seems a little too underwhelming to have Cena’s final match be at a Saturday Night’s Main Event. The obvious play would be to have Cena’s final match be at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas in April.

The WWE has recently announced a tournament to see who will earn the right to be Cena’s final opponent. Regardless of who wins that tournament, and whether they extend Cena’s Farewell Tour or not, I’m banking on some type of swerve at the end of the night on Dec. 13 in D.C.

So, if The Rock’s music hits in the moments immediately after Cena’s “final match” at Saturday Night’s Main Event, just know that I won’t be surprised to see The Final Boss shed his goosebumps, give his slow walk down to the ring, and remind Cena that he promised him something before he leaves: one more 1-on-1 with The Great One.

And that’s how a man of his word can push his final match back to the very first WrestleMania on ESPN.

Notorious P.I.C.