John Cena’s upcoming John Cena AJ Styles match at the Crown Jewel event in Australia has sparked controversy among WWE veterans. With only a few appearances remaining before Cena retires, The Miz, a former World Champion and long-time rival, expressed frustration over the match booking, arguing that he should have been the one to face Cena in this critical phase of his career.
The Miz Challenges Cena’s Final Opponent Selection
Scheduled to take place in about three weeks, Cena’s match against AJ Styles is one of the last few on his retirement tour. Despite having multiple opponents still possible for his concluding matches, the choice of Styles as a key adversary did not sit well with The Miz. Known for their historic rivalry, The Miz believes he deserved a spot to wrestle Cena before his exit. In a recent Unlikely podcast appearance, The Miz pointedly stated:
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you backstage, I was happy for AJ Styles, but very angry that it’s AJ Styles versus John Cena and not John Cena versus The Miz. I beat the guy at WrestleMania in the main event for the WWE Championship, one of the only people ever to do something like that, and I can’t get a match with John Cena. He’s got five dates left.” – The Miz
This frustration stems from The Miz’s desire for one more high-profile bout with Cena, a match he has advocated for since the retirement tour began. He added:
“The audience could say, ‘We want The Miz versus John Cena,’ and I would love to have one more match. I’ve been talking about this since the retirement tour started. I was the first person to go sign me up. I’m putting my name in the hat. When’s my number going to get called? Maybe never, because there’s only five left. I was, I’m pretty upset. Like, that’s my heart talking. Selfishly, I want that match.” – The Miz
The Miz and Cena share a long history, facing each other countless times with both earning notable victories. Their rivalry is remembered as one of WWE’s most intense, leaving many fans hoping for a last confrontation before Cena retires.
Reflecting on John Cena’s Brief Heel Turn and Its Impact
John Cena made headlines earlier this year at Elimination Chamber 2025 by turning heel, surprising many given his long-standing image as a heroic face. However, this change lasted only a short time before he reverted to being a fan favorite shortly before SummerSlam 2025. The Miz discussed this storyline shift in depth during his recent guest spot on the Bussin’ With The Boys Podcast, offering insight into why the heel turn failed to resonate.
“I thought it created intrigue and interest because John was never a bad guy. Like, I mean, in the beginning of his career, he was a little bit. But I mean, for 99% of his career, he’s been the uber baby [face]. Even when people wanted him to change and go to a bad guy, he never did. And so I don’t know. This is me speaking, just on my mind and what I know as a WWE superstar. It creates intrigue. It’s like, ‘Oh, he’s never done that.’ Maybe John wanted to do that because, or maybe the higher-ups wanted him to do that, or it was just a collective unit where they were like, let’s try that.” – The Miz
The Miz acknowledged Cena’s unique talent to adapt and excel in WWE and beyond, highlighting his successful transition into acting, particularly praising the TV show Peacemaker. He said:
“But sometimes that happens, right? And you see what happens. And I mean, John can make anything work. John is just that talented. I mean, you look at what he’s able to do, not only in WWE but in the movies. I mean, you watch, if you watch Peacemaker, I mean, that show is phenomenal. So good. It’s the work ethic that John Cena has. And he’s parlayed it to every person that he’s come across. Like for me, like my work ethic stems from what he has put upon me, if that makes any sense.” – The Miz
The podcast featured some additional commentary on the backlash and curious engagement that the heel turn generated, emphasizing that the move, while divisive, kept fans talking. The Miz concluded:
“So it was kind of cool because he did it, and then it was like, ooh, this is weird. This is interesting. But everyone’s talking about it because it’s John Cena. And then when he changed back, it created that much more, like, yes, he’s back. Our guy’s back for the next four—I mean, what is it? Three months now. We get him for three more months.” – The Miz
What The Future Holds for Cena’s Final Matches
As John Cena nears the end of his WWE in-ring career, each of his remaining matches carries heightened significance for both the fans and the WWE roster. The strong reactions from veterans like The Miz reveal the emotional and professional stakes tied to Cena’s farewell run. His upcoming match with AJ Styles will be a major event, but The Miz’s public call reflects ongoing debates about who deserves to share the spotlight during Cena’s final appearances.
Adding another layer of anticipation to Cena’s final stretch, wrestler Joe Hendry has recently teased a potential match against John Cena, further diversifying the lineup of possible opponents during this career-closing period.
With these factors in play, the John Cena AJ Styles match is set to be a key moment at Crown Jewel in Australia, but fans and insiders alike remain eager to see if other memorable rivalries, particularly with The Miz, will be revisited before Cena officially departs the WWE ring.
