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3 Reasons Why LA Knight should be John Cena’s Final Opponent
Photo Credit: WWE

The last time indeed is now, as we have reached the finals of “The Last Time is Now” tournament. Gunther will battle LA Knight in the finals to determine John Cena’s last opponent on SmackDown this Friday.

Gunther and LA Knight have the opportunity of a lifetime. Retiring Cena is a huge accomplishment, equivalent to winning World Championships and main-eventing WrestleManias. Despite a level playing field, many fans are expecting The Ring General to win the tournament and face Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

However, we offer a different perspective here. On that note, let’s look at three reasons why LA Knight should be John Cena’s final opponent at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

#3. LA Knight Has a Past with John Cena

In the fall of 2023, John Cena returned to WWE for an extended run. The Greatest of All Time’s stint coincided with the rise of LA Knight into the main event scene. Initially, both men didn’t see eye to eye, but Knight eventually earned Cena’s respect.

The Megastar and The Champ notoriously teamed up to defeat Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa at Fastlane 2023. Knight would then move on to a feud with Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship. Cena, again, was influential here in establishing Knight’s worth as a credible challenger for Reigns.

With Gunther, Cena has virtually no previous interaction. Therefore, it would be a new story that would have to be built from scratch, and WWE clearly doesn’t have the time to create a compelling narrative. With Knight, an existing storyline is present that needs to be revived and enhanced.

#2. Gunther is Too Predictable as a Final Opponent

Gunther has long been rumored to be John Cena’s final opponent. In fact, when Cena announced his farewell tour at Money in the Bank 2024, The Ring General’s name repeatedly came up as a potential name to retire “The Greatest of All Time.”

All the rumors quickly began to catch more fire as the former World Heavyweight Champion entered “The Last Time is Now” tournament. Since the get-go, Gunther has been the undisputed favorite, as shown by his impressive performances against JeVon Evans, Carmelo Hayes, and Solo Sikoa.

If Gunther wins the tournament, very few would be surprised. LA Knight comes into the finals as an underdog, which adds a degree of suspense and unpredictability to the equation.

#1. LA Knight Needs the Win More

The Ring General is a two-time World Heavyweight Champion and the man who retired the legendary Goldberg earlier this year. Gunther is also the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion. In comparison, LA Knight has none of those accolades.


Photo Credit: WWE

The Megastar, who has been on the cusp of greatness for some time, needs a slight nudge to break into the main event scene. Retiring John Cena could be his ticket to Superstardom. Knight’s name will forever be etched in the history books of WWE, and newer opportunities will emerge for the former US Champion.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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