Five WWE NXT Superstars who deserve to be part of John Cena's retirement tour

WrestleMania 41 will be the last WrestleMania for John Cena

One of the WWE’s biggest stars John Cena has announced his future retirement from in-ring action at the end of 2025 as he focuses on his acting career. He was considered by many as ‘The Face of the Company’ during his reign.

Although John Cena would retire from in-ring action at the end of 2025, WrestleMania 41 will be the last WrestleMania in the highly decorated career of Cena. However, his WrestleMania opponent is still unknown.

Cena is a 16-time world champion with a total of 13 WWE Championships and three World Heavyweight Championships to his name. He is tied for the record 16-time world champion alongside WWE legend Ric Flair.

Cena is still regarded greatest professional wrestler of all time by his peers including Kurt Angle, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Paul Heyman. The current WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes regards John Cena as the greatest of all time.

The retirement news has made fans sad as they reminisce about the good old days when John Cena ruled the WWE throne. There are a lot of superstars that want to face the 16-time champion before his retirement.

These names include Cena’s real-life friend and on-screen fierce rival Randy Orton. However, several NXT stars should also get the chance to be a part of Cena’s retirement tour.

Let us look at five potential NXT stars who deserve to get a chance against the biggest name in the company.

5. Je’Von Evans

Je’Von Evans who went from having a Randy Orton action figure as a kid to facing the WWE legend in a match has quickly made a name for himself after his WWE debut on February 16, 2024. Although Evans lost to the WWE legend he received high praise from fans.

Evans has already achieved one of his dreams of fighting the WWE legend Randy Orton and proving his capability as a rising star. A chance to fight the 16-time champion would be a dream for the rising NXT star.

4. Tony D’Angelo

The current NXT North American Championship, Tony D’Angelo is a rising star with a charismatic persona. He has made a name for himself in the promotion recently defeating Oba Femi to win his career first singles title.

Apart from his recent success, he is also the two-time NXT Tag Team Champion along with his tag team partner Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. D’Angelo’s rising star and his skills on the mic make him a potential opponent for the WWE legend John Cena.

3. Joe Hendry

Scottish pro wrestler Joe Hendry is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and he also appears on WWE’s NXT. Rumors suggest that Hendry will be making his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble 2025.

The Scottish pro wrestler is a former one-time and the longest-reigning TNA Digital Media Champion. A potential match with John Cena would be a great boost to his career and would pave the way for Hendry WWE success.

2. Ethan Page

Julian Micevski is better known among WWE fans by his ring name Ethan Page. He has emerged as one of the most skilled wrestlers in the NXT brand. He is a unique blend of in-ring paired with his mic skills. Page is one of the most prominent stars in the NXT brand currently.

Page has recently secured a title shot by defeating Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans in a triple-threat match on the recent episode of NXT. Page’s charisma paired with his rising success makes him a very deserving candidate to face John Cena in his retirement tour.

1. Trick Williams

The current NXT Champion Trick Williams is currently at the top of the food chain in the NXT and has received praise from WWE stars including the Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso.

He shared the ring with the Intercontinental Champion during a promo on NXT’s last week episode. Given the opportunity to fight Cena would be a huge accomplishment for the NXT Champion.

Do you agree with our picks? Let us know your opinions on this list in the comments section down below.

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