John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour is progressing steadily, with just ten dates left before he concludes his remarkable career as one of the greatest champions in wrestling history. Known widely as The Franchise Player, Cena continues to compete against top contenders while influencing the trajectories of various stars throughout the tour.
Throughout his time in WWE, Cena has earned a reputation for elevating other wrestlers, regardless of whether he emerged victorious or not. His Retirement Tour is no different—while boosting some rising talents, he has also inadvertently buried a few others, upsetting fans and shaping storylines in unpredictable ways.
Elevating Prominent Wrestlers
Since his return at WrestleMania 39, Cody Rhodes, also known as The American Nightmare, has remained a focal point of WWE‘s main event scene. Cena’s involvement in Rhodes’ storylines during his Retirement Tour further amplified Rhodes’ position. Though Cena defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship, his heel turn against Rhodes gave new depth to Rhodes‘ babyface persona. Rhodes’ subsequent victory over Cena to retain the title at SummerSlam marked a career-high moment for him and cemented his status as a top star.
Another wrestler largely boosted by Cena’s Tour is Jey Uso. Starting this year, Jey’s career saw a significant upswing, credited in large part to Cena’s gestures during the Royal Rumble event. Despite being in his final Royal Rumble match, Cena chose not to win and instead supported Jey. This decision influenced WWE’s backstage direction, leading to a career-changing moment for Jey, giving him a fresh main event status. Cena’s loss at the Royal Rumble highlighted his willingness to uplift emerging stars even as he approaches retirement.
Controversial Moments Surrounding CM Punk
While some wrestlers gained momentum from Cena’s Retirement Tour, others faced setbacks. CM Punk, dubbed The Voice of the Voiceless, returned to WWE to enthusiastic crowd support and soon entered the Undisputed WWE Championship picture by challenging Cena. Despite the intense rivalry, Punk lost the match, which appeared to weaken his character. Additionally, Cena’s promo during the build-up to their feud, reminiscent of Punk’s own famous “Pipebomb” speech, was seen as overshadowing Punk’s return and character, effectively burying him in fans’ eyes.
Struggles of WWE Veterans Like R-Truth
R-Truth experienced a mixed year amid Cena’s Retirement Tour. Their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event briefly put Truth back in the spotlight, but following his surprising release from WWE and later return, Truth found himself largely sidelined. Despite multiple attempts to target Cena and develop a new character, WWE did not fully leverage Truth’s storyline potential. Ultimately, this led to Cena dominating Truth on recent shows, contributing to another burial in Cena’s final matches.
The Dual Role of John Cena During His Retirement Tour
John Cena has walked a fine line throughout his final run in WWE. On one hand, he has been an invaluable asset to the company by elevating younger and mid-card wrestlers such as Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. On the other, unavoidable narrative decisions tied to his Retirement Tour have resulted in certain notable stars like CM Punk and R-Truth being derailed or buried.
While Cena has not intended to diminish the status of these wrestlers, the reality of closing out his legendary career requires choosing moments to shine himself, which can sometimes impact others’ standing. The WWE Universe and insiders are watching closely to see how Cena’s final few matches unfold and what legacy he leaves beyond his own accolades.
What Lies Ahead for John Cena and WWE
As Cena approaches the conclusion of his Retirement Tour, speculation remains about his future role within WWE and how the company will utilize the momentum he has built or halted among different stars. His remaining matches are highly anticipated, with fans eager to see how Cena balances paying tribute to his own career while continuing to shape the next generation of WWE talent.
The tour’s final phase promises dramatic moments, important storylines, and potentially new directions for wrestlers Cena has impacted, both positively and negatively. His influence on WWE’s landscape at this pivotal moment is undeniable, making the last chapter of the John Cena WWE Retirement Tour an important period for the industry.
