Five non-WWE stars who could enter 'Last Time Is Now Tournament' to determine John Cena’s last opponent

John Cena announced a tournament to determine his last opponent at SNME!

During the November 1 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, John Cena, via surprise video package, reflected on his journey and said he made a promise to walk away when he could no longer perform at the level the WWE Universe deserves.

Cena revealed that his final opponent will not be chosen by him or WWE management. Instead, it will be determined through a 16-man tournament that begins November 10 in Boston, the city where his WWE career began more than two decades ago. The 17-time World Champion revealed that the upcoming tournament will feature top names from Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and even competitors from outside WWE.

Cena’s mention of competitors from outside WWE sparked major speculation online about Edge (Adam Copeland) and Chris Jericho possibly entering the tournament, two stars with whom Cena shares a long history, and who are both currently under AEW contracts.

However, it appears unlikely that those two, or any other non-contracted stars, will participate. Instead, the tournament is more likely to feature talent from WWE’s partner promotions, AAA and TNA Wrestling. Let us now take a look at the top five non-WWE talents who could be a part of the tournament.

5. Mr. Iguana

The first-ever Worlds Collide, since the takeover of Lucha Libre AAA, saw Mr. Iguana emerge as a breakout star. Iguana has since made appearances on the main roster and has become a fan favorite. The promotion could decide to call on Iguana to partake in the tournament and try his hand at securing the spot against Cena in his final match.

Also Read: John Cena announces tournament to determine final WWE opponent; Major tease made at SNME

4. Joe Hendry

Former TNA World Champion Joe Hendry has become a staple of NXT Programming, making iconic ‘Say his name and he appears’ entrances, despite being signed with TNA Wrestling. Hendry has also made an appearance on WrestleMania 41, battling Randy Orton. Hendry could make a surprise appearance to partake in the tournament next week.

3. Matt Cardona

Matt Cardona, better known among WWE fans as Zack Ryder, is another TNA name who has been linked with Cena during his retirement tour. The two have a history together in the Stamford-based promotion dating back to the 2010s.

The speculations picked up steam last month when Cardona competed in NXT, and his wife and SmackDown star Chelsea Green rallied online for his appearance on the main roster. Notably, Cena also posted a screengrab of Cardona’s NXT appearance showcasing his own interest in battling Cardona one final time.

2. Jeff Hardy

One-half of the legendary tag team, the Hardy Boyz, Jeff Hardy has had a long-storied career in WWE, featuring some iconic moments. While the rivalry between Cena and Hardy was brief, it was highly impactful, with both men competing for the top spot in the promotion.

Taking a break from tag team competition, Hardy could enter the ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament. It will also mark his main roster appearance in a long time.

1. Nic Nemeth

Nic Nemeth, better known among WWE fans as Dolph Ziggler, has had an iconic run in the promotion that spans two decades. Nemeth currently performs in TNA Wrestling, and unlike his peers, who have made appearances in NXT, Nemeth has yet to make any appearance under the working relationship between the two promotions.

Nemeth has stated that he feels he has already achieved everything there. However, Nemeth has kept the door open for a potential return, and what better way than to partake in the tournament to cap off his long-storied rivalry with Cena.

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