The wrestling world is counting down to John Cena’s final matches, but the road to his retirement has been far from smooth.
What was supposed to be a grand farewell for one of WWE’s biggest stars has instead been met with uneven storytelling, a divisive heel turn, and what Cena’s own father has described as a ruined send-off.
According to Sports Illustrated, the story began earlier this year at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025. In one of the most shocking moments of the past decade, Cena turned heel, aligning himself with The Rock.
The surprise created immediate buzz, but the momentum quickly faded. Speaking with Sportskeeda UnSKripted, John Cena Sr. admitted the follow-up never lived up to its promise.
“Turning John Cena heel was a great idea; the shock factor was great, but I think the storyline was destroyed,” Cena Sr. said. “That was a very poor move, in my opinion, because it was a big gamble for everyone that was involved. And to see how it started and then to see the characters who were involved no longer be present, well, the heel turn almost became non-essential.”
Cena Sr. also didn’t hold back on his opinion of his son’s high-profile match against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.
In a bout that lasted less than ten minutes, Lesnar dominated Cena in what some critics have called a squash. The outcome not only shocked fans but left Cena Sr. baffled.
“I didn’t understand the way it went down,” he said, noting that the highlight of the show for him wasn’t even his son’s match but Stephanie Vaquer defeating Iyo Sky for the Women’s World Championship.
The response from fans and media has been just as critical. Wrestling writers have described the heel run as inconsistent and disjointed, with no clear long-term vision. The abrupt absence of The Rock from the storyline only amplified the sense that WWE prioritized a viral moment over meaningful development. Cena’s quick shift back to a babyface role, without explanation, left the arc feeling incomplete.
At Wrestlepalooza, Lesnar’s victory raised even more questions. Industry reporter Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer stated, “As of this weekend, I’m told that this is it. There isn’t going to be another Brock Lesnar/John Cena match. That was their last match. And Brock is not his final opponent.”
For many fans, the decision to have Cena lose so decisively—without a chance for redemption—undercut what could have been a climactic rivalry.
While there have been bright spots in this farewell run—like Cena’s Street Fight with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam and his U.S. Title challenge against Sami Zayn on SmackDown—they haven’t erased the larger frustrations with WWE’s booking. Some, such as FanSided, point to AEW’s handling of Sting’s retirement as a contrast, saying Cena deserved the same careful planning and consistency.
Despite the setbacks, Cena’s retirement schedule is moving forward. His final match in the squared circle is confirmed for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. on December 13.
Before then, fans will see him square off against AJ Styles at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, a long-awaited matchup announced at the start of the tour.
There’s also buzz around a possible bout with Dominik Mysterio, who currently holds both the Intercontinental and AAA Mega Championships. WWE has discussed the idea internally, but no official confirmation has been made.