Gunther or LA Knight: Who should have faced John Cena in his final WWE match?

John Cena’s final opponent will be determined on SmackDown this week.

The sun is finally setting on the legendary in-ring career of John Cena, and WWE has officially chosen the man who will stand across from him in his retirement match: Gunther.

After winning the finals of The Last Time Is Now Tournament, The Ring General has cemented his place in history by earning the honor of facing Cena on December 13 at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

While LA Knight put up a remarkable fight in the tournament, Gunther walking out as the winner wasn’t just the right booking decision, it was the necessary one.

John Cena’s final WWE opponent: Who was the better choice?

There’s no denying LA Knight has captured lightning in a bottle. With unmatched charisma, crowd connection, and a throwback energy that mirrors Cena’s early years, Knight would have made for a poetic retirement match.

Fans have backed him passionately, and many felt this was the moment WWE could fully solidify him as a main-event player.

But sentiment doesn’t always equal significance. Knight still has room to grow, and while he’s undeniably popular, he hasn’t yet built the resume that defines a generational final opponent.

John Cena’s last match shouldn’t simply be a feel-good moment, it should be a clash rooted in legacy, dominance, and consequence. Knight would have gained far more from a classic with Cena than Cena would have gained by choosing him as the curtain call.

Gunther, however, brings something Knight currently doesn’t: a career defined by excellence, longevity, and dominance.

Gunther’s credentials speak for themselves. Multiple championships, historic reigns, and an unmatched aura of legitimacy make him the perfect final challenge for Cena. For nearly 70% of his WWE career, Gunther has held gold. His brutal, disciplined style stands as a stark contrast to Cena’s fiery, heroic spirit, creating a classic hero-versus-war-machine dynamic worthy of a final chapter.

His tournament run only strengthened the argument. After returning from a brief hiatus, he bulldozed his way to the finals and then delivered a punishing, statement-making performance against LA Knight. This wasn’t luck, it was dominance.

And let’s not forget: Gunther already retired a legend when he defeated Goldberg in the Hall of Famer’s final match. If anyone is worthy of closing the book on Cena’s storied career, it’s the man who has defined this era with precision and power.

Gunther isn’t just the winner of the tournament, he’s the right choice, the logical choice, and the only choice for Cena’s last stand.

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