John Cena's Last Match: WWE Still Has A HUGE Booking Problem To Solve (WWE News)

WWE bosses and John Cena disagree on how he should be used at Saturday Night's Main Event.

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event John Cena Gunther
WWE

WWE management and John Cena are currently locked in talks about exactly how he should be used during his retirement send off this weekend at Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington, DC. Both sides disagree about where Cena should be placed on the card, which is interesting.

Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful Select reports that the man himself believes he should actually open the show on the night. Meanwhile, the company's hierarchy think it'd be a much better idea for Cena to main event and close things out so they can give him a proper, emotional farewell worthy of his epic WWE career.

Dave Meltzer corroborated this write up via Wrestling Observer Radio by saying that everyone's still locked "in discussion" about the best way to go about things. Obviously, it'd be a huge surprise if Cena didn't headline his own retirement bash in the end.

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According to Wrestlevotes/Fightful, "The majority of people within WWE want John Cena to close the show", but "both ideas have been floated" behind the curtain as creative continues to firm up what'll be happening on the final SNME of 2025.

Cena opening is "on the table". It'd be a shock to see that, but it hasn't been ruled out at time of writing.

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Cena's Call Would Be A Selfless Act

John Cena NXT
WWE

If Cena does get his wish and his match vs. Gunther kicks off the night, then it'll be viewed as one last selfless act from a true company man. Sure, JC has reportedly had his power trips like most other major stars over the years, and there are numerous reports from ex-WWE stars about him either being difficult to work with or highly protective of his spot, but that was then and this is now.

'The time is up, the time is now'. Sorry.

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Spotlighting NXT as the main feature for SNME would put some focus on the future, but it's easy to imagine that a lot of fans tuning in would feel dissatisfied if another bout like...Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi (for example) main evented the night. That'll be a fun one for sure, but let's be honest: People are flocking to Washington's Capital One Arena and tuning in to see John Cena's send off.

Everything else on tap is a mere bonus and a supporting act to that. Besides, WWE don't have any grudge bouts or meaty personal issues to work with here. The entire card hinges on the success of Cena vs. Gunther.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.