During John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour last year, one match stood out as particularly memorable: his encounter with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel in Perth. Both superstars delivered an intense performance, honoring their wrestling histories with a series of finishing moves exchanged back and forth. However, Cena recently disclosed that AJ Styles was not originally scheduled as his opponent for that event. Instead, Drew McIntyre was the first choice before WWE changed plans due to fan reactions.
Following Cena’s bout against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, the response from the WWE audience was notably negative. Fans expressed a strong desire to see Cena face AJ Styles once more, a sentiment that influenced the company’s decision. This shift aimed to create a more satisfying moment during Cena’s farewell appearances.
Reasons Behind WWE’s Decision to Switch Opponents
Explaining the decision on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, John Cena said,
“I try to plan it as a year of creative experiences, but you have to be able to pivot. ‘You don’t have Rock, you don’t have Travis [Scott]. We’re going to do this and this.’ AJ was supposed to be Drew [McIntyre]. We pivoted. You want to have a feel-good moment because they were listening to the data points. They listen to you guys. They do. It’s real. You have the Brock moment; people are pi**ed off. You have the AJ moment, and things are great. You have this three-appearance run with Dom, which is fun. You know, hometown boy wins in his hometown, and then you go to San Diego; he gets his payback, but Liv comes back. We involve every f**ing person we possibly can. Like, fun match! Then, the Ring General,”
reflecting the company’s flexibility based on fan feedback and data.
This adjustment gave Cena a chance to close his career on a more positive note, responding to fans’ excitement for a clash with The Phenomenal One rather than continuing with the initial plan involving Drew McIntyre.
The Broader Impact of the Match and Cena’s Retirement Decision
Beyond this specific event, Cena shared additional insights about why he selected December as the month to step away from wrestling, underscoring the thoughtfulness behind his farewell tour. The match with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel carries significance as a high point within his closing chapter in WWE, showcasing mutual respect and skill between two of wrestling’s standout performers.
This unexpected opponent switch highlights WWE’s responsiveness to fan sentiment and how it can influence storyline decisions, especially during pivotal moments like retirement tours. Fans can expect that such adaptive booking remains a key strategy in maintaining engagement and delivering memorable wrestling events.
