WWE Derailed John Cena’s Retirement Tour

Crown Jewel Perth Match with AJ Styles Without Any Build-Up

AJ Styles and John Cena share a storied rivalry, dating back to Styles’ WWE debut in 2016. Their four singles matches have been evenly split, with Styles winning in 2016 and Cena securing victories in 2017 and 2018. Recently, Cena expressed a desire on social media to face The Phenomenal One at the Crown Jewel Perth Premium Live Event. Styles accepted the challenge, and the match was made official. However, there has been no significant build-up for this upcoming match since the announcement.

This week’s Raw, the final episode before the Premium Live Event, does not feature Cena, and there’s little chance that the former WWE Champion, AJ Styles, will cut a promo to hype the match. This raises the question: if WWE wasn’t planning to build this match properly, why not cancel it and have Cena make a final appearance in Australia without a match? That approach might have been a more fitting tribute.

John Cena’s Limited Dates During the Retirement Tour

As John Cena’s retirement tour nears its end, he has been balancing his Hollywood commitments with WWE appearances. After this weekend’s Crown Jewel Perth event, the Cenation Leader will have just four dates remaining out of his 36 promised appearances. This limited schedule raises concerns about whether WWE has squandered Cena’s retirement tour or if the company can still deliver something meaningful before the 17-time World Champion concludes his illustrious career.

It appears the damage may already be done, with little room for WWE to rectify the situation. Cena’s commitments to the entertainment industry prevent him from amending his schedule, as he must balance his Hollywood obligations with his in-ring performances.

WWE, Triple H, The Rock, and other major stakeholders failed to provide Cena an opportunity to capture the Intercontinental Championship—a title that has eluded him throughout his career. Even if Cena were to win the title in his final match, it would feel futile. Dominik Mysterio has excelled as the current champion, and having him lose the title to a retiring legend would diminish his reign. Moreover, Cena would likely have to relinquish the title immediately, reminiscent of CM Punk’s controversial departure during his first WWE run.