John Cena’s WWE farewell tour has taken an unexpected turn with the revelation that he has exerted significant creative control over his final run. This development comes amid speculation and tension surrounding Cena’s relationship with The Rock, whose limited appearances during the farewell tour have fueled rumors of backstage conflict. The events unfolded throughout 2024 as Cena continued to balance his wrestling commitments alongside his acting career.
Background on Cena and The Rock’s Legendary WrestleMania Rivalry
Both John Cena and The Rock have become synonymous with professional wrestling, each transitioning to successful Hollywood careers while scaling back their in-ring activities. Throughout their time in WWE, Cena and The Rock shared a storied rivalry highlighted by several memorable matches, including face-offs at WrestleMania 32 and WrestleMania 40. While their paths diverged as they pursued acting, Cena’s alignment with The Rock at WrestleMania 40 led to a shocking heel turn against Cody Rhodes and Cena’s capture of the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania 41.
Behind-the-Scenes Strains Limiting The Rock’s Farewell Tour Participation
Despite their history, The Rock’s participation in Cena’s farewell tour has been notably sparse, prompting speculation about backstage disagreements. Early in 2024, The Rock was absent from WrestleMania Vegas, creating questions about his ongoing WWE involvement. Sources close to WWE have circulated contrasting theories, but Vince Russo, a former WCW World Heavyweight Champion and wrestling insider, suggested there were deeper issues on the creative side. Speaking on The Wrestling Outlaws with Dr. Chris Featherstone, Russo explained that Cena became entangled in conflicts involving The Rock and WWE’s creative direction.
“A lot went sour with Rock. A lot went sour with Rock and people not being on the same page, and Cena got caught right smack in the middle of that, and since that happened, they have not been able to recover from that,” Vince Russo said.
Vince Russo Reveals Cena’s Role in Steering His Final WWE Run
Vince Russo shed more light on the situation by confirming that John Cena has been exercising significant creative control during his farewell tour, a rare privilege in WWE. Russo emphasized that Cena is effectively deciding his opponents and storylines as WWE struggles to integrate The Rock after his withdrawal. Russo defended The Rock’s reputation, suggesting that the Hollywood star’s pullout was not a matter of backing out but rooted in complex backstage issues.
“I think that’s where Cena’s head is at. I would just love to know, bro, like, man… if we were a fly on the wall, what really, really, really happened? I don’t think the Rock, the Rock that I knew, I don’t think The Rock would make a commitment to John Cena, and then The Rock would pull out, and bail out, on Cena. I don’t believe that about Dwayne Johnson, not for a minute. If Dwayne Johnson made a commitment, then he made a commitment, and when you watch that WWE Unreal, he was into it. Rock was into it with the [cuts neck] and the whole 9 yards. We saw he was into it. I was also told this, bro… I was also told by an active person on the roster that Cena is calling all his own shots in this run,” Vince Russo said.
“I was told that Cena definitely has final say. So, Rock and Cena at one point were on the same page, there’s no question about that, Rock committed to that. Something happened, and when that something happened, and Rock is pulled out of the equation, now they have no idea what to do with John Cena, and what’s John Cena doing? He’s trying to book himself against the best opponents he can. Brock Lesnar’s a good opponent, there’s a history. He’s probably a huge supporter of AJ Styles, probably loves AJ because everybody that knows AJ loves AJ. So, why wouldn’t Cena give AJ a shot? But man, I would just truly love to know because nobody is going to tell me that freakin’ The Rock bailed on John Cena. Nobody’s going to tell me that,” Vince Russo said.
Details of Cena’s Farewell Tour Matches and Future Schedule
John Cena’s farewell tour includes high-profile matches designed to culminate his wrestling legacy. He is scheduled to face AJ Styles at WWE Crown Jewel, an anticipated bout that taps into their shared respect and history. Following that event, Cena will appear on RAW shows at Boston’s TD Garden on November 10 and Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 17. His tour will conclude with the 39th Survivor Series in San Diego on November 29, before his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, DC. Rumors have circulated that Cena’s last opponent could be Gunther or potentially Dominik Mysterio, adding intrigue to these farewell moments.
How Cena’s Control and Rock’s Limited Role Reflect WWE’s Current Creative Tensions
The revelation that John Cena has taken the reins of his farewell storyline highlights broader tensions within WWE’s creative environment. Cena’s ability to craft his own matches and story arcs reflects not only his stature but also WWE’s apparent struggle to integrate certain major stars, such as The Rock, into ongoing narratives. Vince Russo’s comments suggest that unresolved backstage disagreements have disrupted what could have been a more collaborative farewell tour showcasing both Cena and The Rock. As Cena transitions out of active wrestling into his acting career, this chapter underscores the challenges of balancing star power with corporate storytelling and the shifting dynamics behind WWE’s scenes.
