John Cena’s farewell tour has been one of professional wrestling’s most memorable spectacles, with the 16-time world champion making 36 appearances throughout 2025 before his final match on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Over his two-decade career, Cena has faced countless legendary opponents and created unforgettable moments. However, there are several wrestlers, either from different eras, brand splits, or those whose careers never aligned, that Cena surprisingly never wrestled in a significant singles match.
During his farewell tour, Cena has already faced legendary rivals like CM Punk, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar. But imagine if these 10 wrestlers in their prime had been added to the lineup. Here’s who would have made the perfect late-career opponents for the Cenation Leader.
1. Stone Cold Steve Austin – The Texas Rattlesnake
Steve Austin is arguably the biggest star in WWE history, yet a singles match between him and Cena never materialized. Austin was largely retired by the time Cena became a top-tier competitor, making their paths rarely cross in a major capacity. A prime Austin, in his relentless, uncompromising character at his physical peak, would have brought a different energy than most of Cena’s rivals. Austin’s brawling style combined with his promos cutting through Cena’s earnestness would have created compelling friction. The rock-solid fundamentals of Austin versus Cena’s adaptability would have made for must-watch television.
2. The Rock – The Most Electrifying Man
While Cena did face The Rock twice during his comeback, once at WrestleMania 29 and again in the main event of WrestleMania 32, a prime Rock in his absolute peak form would have been unmatched. During the Attitude Era, The Rock was untouchable, combining athleticism, charisma, and technical excellence. A storyline pitting prime Rock against peak Cena, rather than The Rock in his 2013-2014 comeback form, would have been a once-in-a-generation spectacle that transcended wrestling.
3. Rey Mysterio – The Master of Speed and Precision
John Cena never had a significant one-on-one feud with Rey Mysterio, despite both being main event staples during overlapping years. In his prime during the mid-2000s, Rey Mysterio was a high-flying phenom capable of making any opponent look incredible. A match between Cena’s power and Mysterio’s unmatched aerial artistry would have been a technical showcase. Their recent encounter at WWE Crown Jewel 2025, where Cena defeated Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship, hinted at what fans missed for years.
4. Kurt Angle – The Olympic Hero
While Cena did wrestle Kurt Angle multiple times early in his career, a match between them in their absolute primes would have been a wrestling masterclass. Angle, at his technical peak in the mid-2000s when he was near-unbeatable, against Cena at his most physically imposing in the late 2000s would have showcased two different but equally compelling styles. Angle’s precision wrestling and submission expertise versus Cena’s power and perseverance would have produced a classic.
5. Goldberg – The Undefeated Force
Goldberg only appeared in WWE once in a significant capacity, the 2004 Royal Rumble, where he and Cena briefly crossed paths. A full-fledged match between prime Goldberg and peak Cena would have been a powerhouse spectacle. Goldberg’s explosive offense and protected aura versus Cena’s resilience would have created an intriguing clash of styles. The promo battle between them would have been equally compelling.
6. Mick Foley – The Hardcore Legend
Surprisingly, John Cena and Mick Foley never competed against each other in a notable singles match. Their full-time careers simply missed each other. A hardcore match between prime Foley at his most creative and dangerous and Cena would have been mayhem. Foley’s willingness to absorb punishment combined with his inventive offense would have tested Cena in ways most opponents haven’t.
7. Sting – The Icon
Sting only had a brief window in WWE before injury ended his in-ring career, and he never faced Cena one-on-one. A match between WCW’s greatest icon in his prime and WWE’s modern face would have been the collision of two wrestling worlds. Beyond the symbolic importance, Sting’s technical prowess and psychological storytelling would have made for a compelling encounter.
8. Samoa Joe – The Heavyweight Submission Specialist
Samoa Joe has been a mainstay in WWE, yet he never had a major one-on-one feud with Cena during their overlapping years. Joe during his NXT and early main roster peak, when he was destroying everyone in his path, versus Cena would have been a heavyweight battle. Joe’s submission expertise combined with his striking prowess would have presented an entirely different challenge than most of Cena’s rivals.
9. Ric Flair – The Nature Boy
Ric Flair and John Cena are forever connected in wrestling history, both tied with 16 world championships. Yet they never had a featured one-on-one singles match, which remains one of professional wrestling’s biggest missed opportunities. While Flair was aging by the time Cena hit his peak, a match earlier in Cena’s career when Flair was still capable of main event-level performances would have been historic. The passing of the torch between two of wrestling’s all-time greats deserved better than they received.
10. Hulk Hogan – The Immortal Hulkster
Hulk Hogan and John Cena never squared off one-on-one, despite both being generational faces of WWE. In his prime during the 1980s and early 1990s, Hogan was unstoppable. While a match in modern times wouldn’t have worked, a fantasy encounter between prime Hogan and peak Cena represents a collision between two eras of WWE dominance. The symbolism of the biggest draw of the territorial era facing the biggest draw of the modern streaming era would have been wrestling mythology come to life.
What Made These Encounters Impossible
Several factors prevented these dream matches from materializing. Brand splits kept wrestlers apart for extended periods. Different contract eras meant some wrestlers left before Cena ascended the ranks. Others, like Austin and Hogan, had largely retired before Cena reached his absolute peak. Some, like Flair and Goldberg, were only briefly in WWE during periods when storylines didn’t align.
The Legacy of Cena’s Farewell Tour
While Cena’s farewell tour couldn’t include these hypothetical dream matches, it has celebrated the opponents he did face throughout his career. His recent victory over Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship, completing his career as a Grand Slam champion, served as a testament to Cena’s adaptability and longevity.
The matches Cena did have during his farewell tour, from competitive bouts with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel to emotional encounters with longtime rivals, have reminded fans why Cena remained a main event staple for two decades. These encounters with some of wrestling’s greatest performers showcase a career spent competing against excellence at every level.
December 13 Finale
Cena’s final match on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event will likely conclude a legendary career on a high note. While he’ll never face prime versions of these 10 wrestlers, his farewell tour has served as a reminder that the greatest moments in professional wrestling often come from storylines and chemistry that develop over time, factors that transcend hypothetical matchups and impossible timelines.
