Peter Rosenberg, the host of WWE RAW Recap, has expressed a strong desire to witness one last John Cena vs AJ Styles match before Cena ends his wrestling career in December. Cena, a 17-time world champion, is currently on his Farewell Tour with seven shows remaining, paying tribute to many of his iconic foes such as Edge and Kurt Angle through recent bouts.
Since turning into a babyface in early August, Cena’s Farewell Tour has gained momentum, highlighted by a standout match against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. His subsequent performances against Logan Paul at Clash in Paris and Sami Zayn on SmackDown have also won significant praise.
Rosenberg recognizes Cena’s high level of performance at age 48 and believes a match against AJ Styles would be an ideal final chapter. He commented on the September 9 episode of RAW Recap:
“I know there’s not a lot of opportunity left but there is one match that I really want to see this year. I really want to see John Cena vs AJ Styles one more time. I think the level at which John Cena is working right now, AJ and John Cena knowing this is it, this is the last time, John knowing he’s done in a couple of months, AJ knowing ‘look I’ve got a limited number of these left in me too’.” —Peter Rosenberg, WWE RAW Recap Host
AJ Styles’ WWE future remains uncertain, as his contract is reportedly set to expire in February 2026. Off-air, Styles recently delivered a notable promo hinting at possible friction concerning his status within the company.
Peter Rosenberg is hopeful Triple H will arrange this anticipated encounter. He added:
“One more John Cena vs AJ Styles match. We only got like seven dates left with John. But man would I love to see one of them be an AJ Styles match.” —Peter Rosenberg, WWE RAW Recap Host
Throughout Cena’s Farewell Tour, he has paid homage to several former rivals, including a memorable Styles Clash move on Logan Paul during the Paris event. Rosenberg remarked on these tributes and the limited chances remaining for these iconic battles:
“I’m looking at all the other tributes he’s paying, and it’s like we’re not going to get that match. We see the pop-up powerbomb on SmackDown, we’re not gonna get the Kevin Owens match, Kevin Owens is out with an injury. We see the Kurt Angle, Angle Lock and even the Angle Slam.” —Peter Rosenberg, WWE RAW Recap Host
He also emphasized the significance of a potential Cena vs Styles match:
“But we saw that Styles Clash and I’m watching AJ in Paris, I’m watching in Milwaukee tonight, and I’m seeing what John Cena is doing with people like Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn, and I’m like yeah dude, somewhere squeeze it wherever you can. Because it would be a classic, it would be a forever match.” —Peter Rosenberg, WWE RAW Recap Host
Despite Rosenberg’s enthusiasm, Cena himself has suggested that he may not face AJ Styles again, reflecting on the tributes to his past opponents at Clash in Paris. Their previous rivalry produced some of Cena’s most electrifying moments, with memorable matches at SummerSlam 2016 and Royal Rumble 2017.
The Strong In-Ring Connection Between AJ Styles and John Cena
AJ Styles arrived in WWE in January 2016 as a seasoned competitor, already well-known from his time in TNA wrestling. While highly respected, new arrivals often face challenges gaining immediate spotlight in WWE’s crowded roster.
Within a short time, Styles emerged in the main event scene and clashed with John Cena in the pursuit of SmackDown’s world title during 2016 and 2017. Turning heel against Cena ignited one of WWE’s most captivating rivalries and resulted in several exceptional matches, regarded as career highlights for both wrestlers.
Reflecting on their partnership during a 2020 interview with The Bump, Styles revealed his excitement and admiration for their dynamic:
“I was super excited about it. I knew it was going to be something special, no doubt about it. He and I had this chemistry… we’re two totally different performers, but he and I gelled so well together. … I was smiling the whole time because I knew this was going to be great.” —AJ Styles, WWE Wrestler
Their first bout at Money in the Bank ended with Styles securing a victory after interference from The Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. However, it was Styles’ clean win over Cena at SummerSlam that firmly established his position among WWE’s top stars.
Their next encounter at Royal Rumble delivered another unforgettable contest that Cena won. Styles shared deeper insight into the match’s unique nature:
“As I said, the chemistry that we had was unbelievable. What you don’t know about that match at the Royal Rumble was that we never went outside of the ring; that’s different than most matches. There are a lot of matches that I’m proud of, and this is one of them.” —AJ Styles, WWE Wrestler
Given this history, it would be a missed opportunity for Cena’s Farewell Tour to conclude without revisiting this rivalry. Fans eagerly await any chance for the two to face off once more, whether in a major event or a surprise match on RAW during Cena’s final weeks.
