John Cena began his retirement tour on the debut episode of Monday Night RAW on Netflix. Since that night, it has been a very entertaining journey that saw Cena embrace the hate, win his 17th World title, and compete against the likes of Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Unlike those individuals, many top WWE superstars might not get the privilege of facing him before he ends his in-ring career in December. Due to Cena’s limited dates on his farewell tour, here are six notable WWE stars that will miss out on battling John Cena one last time.
Related: Major Update Emerges On Rumored John Cena Vs. CM Punk Match- Will It Happen At Money In The Bank?
Bron Breakker
Bron Breakker’s emergence as a future top star of WWE has seen him earn championship gold, compete in top-tier matches, and now be aligned with Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins. Breakker’s new path, which is likely to continue throughout the year, reduces his chances of battling Cena with both being heels and on different brands.
Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar has not appeared on WWE TV since the 2023 SummerSlam PLE after his name was linked to Vince McMahon’s sexual misconduct lawsuit. “The Beast” has been rumored to have retired, and there are no signs of his WWE return in the foreseeable future. It means that Lesnar is highly unlikely to work with one of his top rivals again in the ring before he walks away from competition later this year.
Related: John Cena Responds To WWE Fan Outrage, Doubles Down On Surprising Vince McMahon Comments
Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens shared the unfortunate news right before WrestleMania 41 that he had to undergo neck surgery. This led to his match against Randy Orton being cancelled and Owens being benched for at least the next six months. This could mean he would not return by the time John Cena wraps up his in-ring career. Owens’ injury and recovery timeline possibly took away his final chance to compete against the WWE legend.
Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre has always spoken highly about John Cena throughout his entire career. Ever since he came back to WWE in 2017 and became a main event player, he has not had a chance to battle The Cenation Leader in a one-on-one showdown. Moreover, the chances are looking even more bleak with Cena’s limited appearances and other opponents reportedly lined up for him to face on his farewell tour.
Related: 5 John Cena Next Opponent Options After Beating Randy Orton At WWE Backlash, Including Damian Priest
Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed’s momentum of becoming the next destructive force on Monday Night RAW was derailed last year. The Tsunami suffered a devastating ankle injury at the 2024 WWE Survivor Series PLE which has put him out of commission for several months. Reed might return in time, but WWE likely will have already locked in plans for John Cena’s final matches before the Aussie is ready to return.
The Rock
The Rock altered the buildup of John Cena and Cody Rhodes’ rivalry by corrupting Cena to turn heel at the 2025 WWE Elimination Chamber PLE. However, “The Final Boss” missed out on the entire WrestleMania season following the night and had his own reasons to do so. This could very well mean that The Rock might not want to return to the ring this year, missing out on the marquee showdown one more time against John Cena.
Related: Date For Rumored John Cena Vs. R-Truth Match Emerges