Wrestling News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Cena Apr 1, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; John Cena during Wrestlemania Night 1 at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images. Credits: © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

WWE’s Last Time is Now Tournament: Why These 4 Stars Should NOT Face John Cena in His Final Match

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Nov 3, 2025 9:26 AM ET

Look, we all knew this day would come eventually. John Cena, the man who’s been carrying WWE on his shoulders for nearly two decades, is finally hanging up his jorts for good. And naturally, WWE has decided to milk every last drop of nostalgia with “The Last Time is Now Tournament” to determine who gets the honor (or burden, depending on how you look at it) of being Cena’s final opponent.

But here’s the thing – while everyone’s getting all misty-eyed about Big Match John’s farewell tour, let’s pump the brakes for a hot second. Not every wrestler deserves to be the one to send the Franchise Player into retirement. Some matchups would be downright insulting to Cena’s legacy, while others would be such obvious cash grabs that even Vince McMahon would blush.

So before WWE inevitably makes some questionable booking decisions (because when don’t they?), let’s talk about four superstars who absolutely, positively should NOT win this tournament.

The Miz: Been There, Done That, Got the T-Shirt

Oh boy, where do I even start with this one? The Miz and Cena have more history than a high school textbook, sure. They main-evented WrestleMania 27 back in 2011 – you know, that universally beloved match that had fans on the edge of their seats (and by “edge of their seats,” I mean reaching for the remote).

Here’s the brutal truth: if WWE wanted to revisit this rivalry, they should’ve done it years ago. The Miz has carved out a nice little niche for himself as WWE‘s resident reality TV star turned wrestler, but let’s be honest – he’s not exactly lighting the world on fire these days.

The guy’s been floating around the midcard like a lost tourist at WrestleMania, and suddenly he’s supposed to be worthy of retiring John Cena? Please. That ship sailed faster than The Miz’s relevance after his WWE Championship reign ended.

Besides, we’ve already seen this movie. Cena beat The Miz when it mattered most, and revisiting that well now would feel more forced than The Rock’s Hollywood smile. If anything, The Miz should be thanking his lucky stars that he got to main-event WrestleMania with Cena at all.

Solo Sikoa: The Definition of Overkill

Now here’s a head-scratcher that’ll make your brain hurt more than trying to understand WWE’s creative decisions. Solo Sikoa already has a clean victory over Cena from Crown Jewel 2023. So tell me, what exactly would be the point of having him win the tournament?

It’s like watching a movie sequel that nobody asked for. The story’s already been told, folks. Solo dominated the Never Seen 17 (cute nickname, right?) in convincing fashion, proving he could hang with the big dogs. Mission accomplished. Case closed. End of story.

But WWE being WWE, they’d probably think, “Hey, you know what would be great? Let’s have the guy who already beat Cena… beat Cena again!” Because nothing says compelling storytelling like repeating the same plot beat twice.

The Street Champion has his own fish to fry with the whole Bloodline saga, and frankly, he doesn’t need another Cena scalp on his wall. One’s enough for any wrestler’s career highlight reel. Let’s move on, shall we?

Sheamus: Too Little, Too Late

This one honestly breaks my heart a little bit. Sheamus and John Cena have a legitimate history that goes way back to 2009 when the Celtic Warrior shocked the world by beating Cena for his first WWE Championship. It was a genuine passing-of-the-torch moment that felt earned and meaningful.

Fast forward to 2024, and both guys are still putting on clinic matches despite being on the wrong side of 45. The Irish powerhouse has been having an absolute renaissance lately, reminding everyone why he’s been a mainstay in WWE for over a decade.

But here’s the kicker – it’s too damn late for this matchup to happen at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cena only has four dates left before he rides off into the Hollywood sunset, and if WWE really wanted to give us Cena vs. Sheamus one more time, they should’ve made it happen months ago on a random episode of RAW or SmackDown.

The Last Time is Now Tournament should be about giving someone younger and less established the rub of beating John Cena in his final match. Sheamus doesn’t need that boost – he’s already a made man with multiple championship reigns under his belt. Save the tournament spot for someone who could actually benefit from the career-defining moment.

Joe Hendry: Great Guy, Wrong Spot

Don’t get me wrong – Joe Hendry is absolutely fantastic. The man’s charisma is off the charts, his TNA World Championship reign was well-deserved, and his brief WWE appearances (including that WrestleMania moment with Randy Orton) have been nothing short of entertaining.

But here’s where my logic kicks in: if WWE really wants to feature Hendry in a match with Cena, they don’t need to waste a tournament spot on him. The guy’s got enough star power and legitimate credentials to challenge the Franchise Player directly. Hell, make it a special attraction match on RAW or SmackDown and call it a day.

The tournament should be reserved for WWE roster members who need that extra push to get to the next level. Hendry, while talented, is essentially a guest star thanks to the WWE-TNA partnership. He’ll get his flowers regardless of whether he wins some tournament or not.

Plus, let’s be real – having a non-WWE wrestler win the tournament to face Cena in his final match would leave a weird taste in everyone’s mouth. It’s like having a substitute teacher give the graduation speech. Sure, they might do a fine job, but it just doesn’t feel right.

The Real Issue: Missing the Point Entirely

Here’s what’s really grinding my gears about this whole situation: WWE seems to be overthinking what should be a simple decision. Cena’s final match should be about creating a new star or giving a massive rub to someone who’s ready to carry the company for the next decade.

Instead, we’re potentially looking at scenarios where established veterans or part-time players get the nod. That’s not just disappointing – it’s a waste of what could be the most career-defining moment in recent WWE history.

The tournament winner should be someone like Gunther, who could use the credibility boost of retiring a legend. Or maybe Dominik Mysterio, who despite being as annoying as a car alarm at 3 AM, has the potential to be a top heel for years to come.

But The Miz? Solo Sikoa? Sheamus? Joe Hendry? Come on, WWE. You can do better than this.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: