Four better choices than Gunther for John Cena’s final WWE opponent

John Cena will soon be wrestling his final match next Saturday.

John Cena’s WWE retirement tour is reaching its emotional conclusion, with the Last Time is Now Tournament set to deliver his final challenger tonight on SmackDown.

The finale between LA Knight and Gunther has positioned the Ring General as the likely winner, making him the projected opponent for Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

But many fans believe Cena’s farewell run deserved something bigger, something more symbolic, and something rooted deeper in WWE history.

While Gunther is undeniably one of the most dominant stars of this generation, the idea of Cena’s final match has stirred passionate debate.

For a figure as monumental as the 16-time world champion, several alternatives stand out as stronger, more compelling final foes. Here are four better last opponents for John Cena, each offering a richer story, emotional payoff, or iconic matchup worthy of closing out his legendary career.

Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins is currently sidelined with a real-life injury, but his name immediately rises near the top of dream opponents for Cena’s final match. Rollins and Cena share a storied rivalry dating back to The Architect’s time in The Authority, producing some of the most electric and athletic matches of their eras.

Rollins himself added fuel to the conversation during that interview, giving a warm nod to Cena’s farewell tour. His high-octane in-ring style, combined with Cena’s classic big-match energy, could produce a fast-paced, emotional, crowd-pleasing main event.

More importantly, Rollins’ legacy as a modern-era workhorse makes him an opponent whose presence alone elevates Cena’s send-off beyond a simple generational bout.

Also Read: John Cena gives major SNME update & possible spoiler for WWE Royal Rumble 2026

Edge

Adam Copeland, formerly Edge, remains under contract with AEW, but fan demand for one final Edge-Cena showdown has never faded. Their rivalry shaped an entire era of WWE programming, producing classics still replayed today. Even Tony Khan has acknowledged fan interest, though he revealed WWE has “not yet asked Adam about a potential one-time appearance.”

A final Cena vs Edge match would be cinematic, emotional, and historically rich, the exact ingredients needed for John Cena’s last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Their chemistry, storytelling, and shared legacy would make this showdown not just a match but a celebration of an era. If Cena truly deserves a farewell worthy of his stature, there is no opponent more fitting than Edge.

Chris Jericho

Although Chris Jericho currently competes in AEW, WWE has shown a willingness to collaborate for special one-time appearances, as seen with Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder’s recent cameos. Rumors of Jericho returning have swirled for months, and placing him opposite Cena in the latter’s final chapter would instantly create one of the biggest moments of the year.

Jericho and Cena have crossed paths before, but never on this stage, never with this emotional weight, and never with Cena’s career on the line. Y2J’s knack for reinvention and storytelling would make the match unforgettable, while his star power would further cement the night as a historic WWE event.

For Jericho, it would be an opportunity to close his WWE arc with dignity. For Cena, it adds a Hall of Fame-caliber rival to his farewell list.

Uncle Howdy

Uncle Howdy wasn’t part of the Last Time is Now Tournament, but he represents one of the most powerful emotional storylines WWE could tell. Cena’s last major encounter with the late Bray Wyatt came five years ago in the surreal Firefly Funhouse Match at WrestleMania. The haunting message from Wyatt: “These words from Bray Wyatt might have been true the entire time!” continues to echo today.

A match with Uncle Howdy would serve as a poetic bridge to Bray’s legacy, allowing WWE to honor the Eater of Worlds while catapulting Howdy as a main-event threat. It would also offer Cena the chance to close his career by giving back to a character connected to someone he deeply respected.

For Howdy, stepping into the ring with Cena would mark a defining career moment. For fans, it would be a symbolic passing of the torch and a high-impact emotional chapter in the ongoing Wyatt Sicks narrative.

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