WWE fans have witnessed growing dissatisfaction over Solo Sikoa’s WWE booking, with his recent United States Championship reign ending without much impact. This controversy unfolds amid other major WWE developments in 2025, including John Cena’s final match announcement and Santos Escobar’s departure from the company.
Rikishi Voices Frustration Over Solo Sikoa’s Treatment in WWE
Solo Sikoa’s journey on WWE’s main roster has experienced both highs and lows, but his most recent United States Championship run lasted just 62 days, failing to generate significant momentum. His title loss to Sami Zayn on the August 29, 2025 edition of SmackDown marked the end of a rather underwhelming reign. Since that defeat, Sikoa has been largely absent from in-ring action and only appeared briefly in backstage segments on television.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, Solo Sikoa’s father, expressed open disapproval with how the company managed his son’s career during a recent episode of the Rikishi Fatu Off The Top podcast. He directed criticism at WWE’s creative team for neglecting to capitalize properly on Solo’s potential and championship run.
“Did we really, really give Solo something? Like when he won the strap, what did we do? What did the booking committee do? What did the company do? At the end of the day, it is what it is. I guess at this moment here ain’t the only real thing going on is the bag. It ain’t about the talent anymore. I don’t think, if you’re trying to question the Samoan Dynasty. Can they work? Blah, blah, blah. Well, I think you go ahead and you can answer that yourself, and it ain’t nothing that’s been given, right? There’s a reason why they put a strap on a person. Maybe that person is the right, the good for business, to carry the belt. I don’t know,”
— Rikishi, WWE Hall of Famer
Solo Sikoa continues to search for the missing element that will solidify his standing within the My Family Tree (MFT) faction. Speculation surrounds who will be the fifth member to join the group, with fans eager to learn if Tama Tonga’s rumored return is imminent. The faction’s future storylines remain uncertain, creating anticipation among the WWE audience.
John Cena’s Retirement Tour Includes Tournament to Name Final Opponent
John Cena’s retirement tour is nearing its end, with only five more appearances planned before he steps away from in-ring competition. The WWE Universe is eager to see which competitor Cena will face in his last match, a crucial moment for the company and its fans.
According to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline, WWE executive Triple H (Paul Levesque) intends to organize a tournament to determine who will challenge Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025.
“Two sources have confirmed that the latest plan is for a tournament to be announced, possibly on the air by Paul Levesque, with top wrestlers vying to be Cena’s last opponent.”
— Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Journalist
Among the wrestlers competing, Gunther appears to be the frontrunner to earn the final WrestleMania-worthy bout with Cena. Gunther, known as the Ring General, has been absent from television since losing the World Heavyweight Championship to CM Punk at SummerSlam earlier this year.
“But multiple have confirmed however it reaches the conclusion, that Gunther was the person chosen for the match.”
— Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Journalist
This planned return would bring Gunther back into the WWE spotlight after months away, creating buzz around the climactic match of Cena’s storied career. Prior to this finale, Cena will face AJ Styles at the Crown Jewel event in Australia on October 11, adding to the excitement around his retirement schedule.
Santos Escobar Ends WWE Tenure, Contract Expiration Confirmed
In more breaking news, Santos Escobar has officially parted ways with WWE as his contract has expired. Reports surfaced that the Mexican wrestler was not expected to renew his deal with the promotion after limited utilization throughout 2025.
Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful Select revealed that Escobar’s contract was approaching expiration and that he had no intention of staying with WWE. Mike Johnson from PWInsider further confirmed that Escobar would become a free agent as of midnight on October 6, 2025.
Despite WWE making efforts to retain him, including a reportedly generous contract offer, Escobar declined to resign. His appearances on television drastically decreased over the past year, with no matches since his May loss to Rey Fenix on SmackDown. His last live WWE match took place during the WWE Supershow in Mexico on July 27, where he teamed with Berto and Angel Garza in a six-man tag team bout.
Escobar first signed with WWE in 2019 and made a significant impact in NXT, highlighted by his historic 321-day reign as NXT Cruiserweight Champion. However, his rise did not translate as strongly on the main roster following his promotion in 2022.
Fans are now speculating about Escobar’s next move, with some expecting him to join All Elite Wrestling, following the path of former WWE talent Andrade. His departure closes a chapter on one of WWE’s prominent Latino performers of this era.
WWE’s Current Challenges and Future Outlook
The dissatisfaction voiced by Rikishi regarding Solo Sikoa’s booking reflects wider concerns about WWE’s creative direction, especially involving talent management and storyline execution. Solo’s lackluster booking contrasts sharply with the potential many see in him, highlighting a perceived disconnect between talent and creative strategy.
Meanwhile, the upcoming tournament to crown John Cena’s final opponent signals WWE’s attempt to create interest and elevate fresh stars during a period of transition. Gunther’s likely selection hints at WWE’s trust in his ability to carry future main event storylines.
At the same time, the loss of Santos Escobar shows WWE grappling with talent retention issues and the impact of underutilized stars moving on. These developments underscore a critical period for WWE as it balances legacy acts like Cena’s retirement with the need to build new stars and maintain fan engagement.
Fans and industry observers will be watching closely to see how WWE addresses these challenges in the coming months, particularly regarding Solo Sikoa’s role, the fallout from Escobar’s departure, and the direction of high-profile matches scheduled for the remainder of 2025.
I really enjoyed the Cruiserweight Title run that Santos Escobar had on NXT.
It was a very fun reign. pic.twitter.com/U0xZMgpd0c
— Finesse (@ProWFinesse) October 6, 2025
