WWE Hall of Famer says injury halted possible matchup with Cena

John Cena. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

WWE Hall of Famer says injury halted possible matchup with John Cena

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 1:27 PM ET

John Cena's tenure in the WWE is coming to a close. His final appearance is scheduled for Dec. 13. Therefore, he only has seven outings left, with the final one being his retirement match.

During Cena's retirement tour, he's faced several top stars, including Cody Rhodes (twice). However, it would appear one potential match fell through, despite an agreement being in place.

In a recent interview with TMZ's "Inside the Ring," WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam revealed he was close to finalizing a match against Cena. Unfortunately, Vam Dam broke both of his heels during an April appearance at MLW's "Battle Riot VII."

“Let me tell you this, I wanted to be one of the return matches for John Cena and his retirement tour," Van Dam said. "I was talking to them. There was a lot of interest; without giving away too many details, we were probably going to do it. Then I broke my heels.”

A match between Van Dam and Cena would have been a major draw. Even now, at 54 years old, the former ECW star would still have drawn a crowd and generated interest ahead of his match.

John Cena's retirement tour has had good, bad moments

When it comes to the WWE, its creative process is fluid, and that has been the story throughout Cena's retirement tour. We've seen some stellar matches, including the street fight against Rhodes, the matchup against Logan Paul and even the SmackDown battle with Sami Zayn.

However, the heel turn and the lack of direction that followed are a clear stain on his final 12 months with the company. If it had been executed better, it could have been a defining chapter in Cena's career. Instead, it's a footnote, tarnished with blemishes.

With seven matches left, there's still plenty of time for Cena to make some more history. We still don't know who his final match will be against, either. However, we can certainly rule out a face-off win Van Dam, which will now leave fans wondering, "What if?"

Still, the moments that don't happen are just as important as the ones that do. And, when we look back at Cena's career, there will be nothing but magical moments and era-defining runs. That's why he's among the greatest wrestlers in history, after all.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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