ONE LAST TIME: FINN BALOR ON JOHN CENA'S GENIUS, HEEL TURN, AND GUNTHER MATCH
John Cena's 23-year WWE run ends Saturday vs. Gunther. We look back at his controversial heel turn, 17 titles, and his painful split with Nikki Bella.
It was June 22, 2002—just another SmackDown episode, or so everyone in WWE thought. But that night changed things, becoming a show that people would remember.
A 25-year-old John Cena stepped into the ring and challenged Kurt Angle, one of the biggest names in the company. He muttered the words 'ruthless aggression.'
Sure, it was planned. But the fact that WWE trusted a rookie from Massachusetts in such a spot showed how much faith they had in him. And it paid off big time.
This Saturday, Cena will say goodbye to WWE for good. His 23-year career has included pretty much everything: tons of titles, a broken relationship with a fellow wrestler, and a final year that got mixed reactions.
It feels unreal to see John leaving, Finn Balor, a former WWE world champion and Cena's opponent, told Daily Mail Sport. Fun fact: the last piece of WWE stuff that I bought as a fan was a John Cena shirt.
John talks to everyone. People might think his character is for kids, but I was an adult when I bought that shirt. I was already in the wrestling business, performing in Japan. He connects with everyone—kids, adults, boys, girls, young and old. He’ll be remembered as one of the greatest.
John Cena's WWE career ends this Saturday with his final match.
His time with the company has had its ups and downs, like his controversial run as a heel in his last year.
But here's the thing about John Cena: he's always won over fans from all walks of life.
That's partly why his farewell year was so interesting. In March, he turned heel—the bad guy—for the first time, joining forces with The Rock to win a record-breaking 17th world title against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.
To many, it felt off, maybe a bit rushed. The Rock disappeared, and the story kind of fizzled, especially after rapper Travis Scott, who was part of their trio, vanished from TV.
"I enjoyed it because I like it when people try new things," Balor said, sharing his view from inside WWE. It was made for that moment when the screens went from dark to bright. Maybe some didn't like it while it was happening, but when we got the John Cena we love back, it was great. I think it was brave and well done, and I'd like to see more of that in wrestling.
And so Superman, as Cena is sometimes called, turned good again. On August 1, he said his time as a bad guy sucked, and he'd go back to being the star everyone loved.
Some more than others, it seemed. In 2012, Cena started dating Nikki Bella, one-half of the Bella Twins (with her sister Brie). Nikki is now in the WWE Hall of Fame, and she and Cena became a power couple.
They dated for years and got engaged at WrestleMania in 2017, but broke up less than a year later, right before their wedding.
"We had an amazing relationship, but we wanted different lives," Bella said on Maria Menounos' Better Together podcast in 2020. We tried to make it work.
Cena used to be engaged to Nikki Bella, but he's now married to Shay Shariatzadeh.
Bella said they broke up because they disagreed about having children.
Finn Balor shared what Cena is like behind the scenes with Daily Mail Sport.
Even when he was willing to have kids, I could tell he didn't really want to. And that's what pushed me away.
If I force someone to be a father, what if he regrets it later, and then we have this child and this life? I didn't want that.
So Cena went back to wrestling and acting. After being a bodybuilder in the late '90s, he realised wrestling was where he wanted to be.
That's right. After college, Cena became a bodybuilder, competing in local events and working in gyms until his wrestling career took off.
He got praise for his wrestling skills. Not always, though. Fans sometimes criticised him, booing him while "John Cena sucks" echoed during his walk-on song, My Time is Now.
But he climbed the ranks, winning titles and having memorable rivalries with guys like Edge, CM Punk, and Randy Orton, and soon became a household name.
His attitude and character helped, too. He's always willing to help, and he's always there for the fans. He even holds the Guinness World Record for granting the most wishes—650—through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
When I joined WWE, John was at his best, Balor said. He was the top guy, the leader. As a new talent from Japan, he could have seen me as a threat. Instead, he saw me as someone who could help him grow the business.
Cena, who used to be a bodybuilder, has been wrestling part-time to take on acting roles in Hollywood.
Gunther, also a former world champion, will be Cena's final opponent this Saturday.
Cena will end his 23-year career on his own terms at Saturday Night's Main Event.
He always advised in and out of the ring. I thought all top WWE superstars were like that. But 11 years later, I realised not everyone is like that. That was just John being John. I was naive to think everyone would be like John Cena because there's only one John Cena.
He's earned the respect and recognition he has because of how he's acted throughout his career, and I'm grateful for that. I'll try to learn from him and use his example as guidance for how I should act.
In 2006, he was in The Marine, but he changed things up in the mid-2010s by wrestling part-time to pursue acting. Since then, he's been in movies like Daddy's Home, F9, The Suicide Squad, and Barbie, with more to come.
His wrestling and acting have helped him build a net worth of around £60 million, which will likely grow as he seems to be going into Hollywood full-time after wrestling.
Outside the ring and acting, he's now married to Shay Shariatzadeh, his second wife, whom he married in 2020. He seems settled, happy, and ready for his next chapter.
This Saturday, after a tournament to decide who it would be, Gunther gets to be Cena's last opponent. He's also a former world champion and is highly regarded in WWE.
"I won't be at the show," Balor added. We were supposed to be there, but since JD [McDonagh, Balor's tag team partner] is injured, I'll be at home with a cup of tea, watching like I would have 30 years ago as a Cena fan, cheering him on.
I'm looking forward to John versus Gunther. It's going to be an amazing match—a clash of styles and chapters of my life.
And when it's all said and done, after 23 years, the wrestling world will say goodbye to John Cena for good.
John Cena’s final match takes place on Saturday, December 13, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which you can watch for free on WWE’s YouTube channel. Finn Balor will be back in Europe this January during the ‘Road to Royal Rumble’ tour. Get your tickets now from Ticketmaster.
BEYOND GUNTHER: ANALYZING THE FOUR POWERHOUSES DESTINED TO LEAD WWE RAW NEXT YEAR
Discover the four WWE superstars, including Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu, ready to lead Monday Night Raw into a post-Gunther era.
For the last few years, WWE Raw has pretty much belonged to Gunther. He dominated by sticking to his guns, hard work, no-nonsense wrestling, and that old-school fire. When his music hits, you can feel the tone shift. It’s hard to find that kind of presence. You don’t just swap him out and expect things to stay the same.
But that’s the thing about Raw. It never just sits still. The show keeps turning over stories' twists, rosters shuffle, and sooner or later, new faces get their shot. If there ever comes a time to find someone new to lead the red brand, there are four guys who look ready to take over. Each brings something different to the table, and you’d feel it right away.
Jacob Fatu could steal the spotlight.
Jacob Fatu’s the first name that jumps out. When he hits the ring, you notice. He just has that look, as he belongs in the big moments. The guy’s got a rare mix of speed and brute power; other heavyweights struggle to keep up.
Lately, he’s been right in the thick of things, getting involved with some of the top storylines on Raw and even rubbing shoulders with Roman Reigns. That’s not by accident; management doesn’t give you those spots unless they see something real. It means they’re thinking long-term with Fatu.
What makes him stand out is the energy. He’s this controlled, dangerous wrecking ball, but he knows when to push and when to hold back. If Raw needs a new anchor, someone to build around in title matches and feuds, Fatu slides into that role and makes it feel natural.
He’s not a finished product yet, and that’s a good thing. There’s room for him to grow, tell deeper stories, and really connect with the crowd. He’s got that spark fans latch onto because he never looks fake or forced.
Oba Femi brings something new.
Then there’s Oba Femi. For a new guy, he commands respect. From the jump, he’s looked like a real contender, strong in the ring, confident on the mic, and totally believable even against the veterans.
What sets Femi apart is his calm. A lot of new stars go for flash, but he’s got real presence. He can stand toe-to-toe with anyone in the locker room, which is huge if you’re thinking about someone fresh at the top.
Give him a real push and let him be his own kind of dominant. Don’t make him copy Gunther; let him be the force that shakes things up. If WWE puts energy into him, fans will feel it. They tend to back new stars who earn it.
Bron Breakker is the natural choice.
Number one, though? That’s Bron Breakker. He just checks all the boxes: famous family, athletic as hell, and already tested in big matches. If you want someone ready right now, it’s him.
He’s shown he can handle main event pressure. He hits hard, he moves quickly, and he’s comfortable being the centre of attention. When he’s on TV, the pace just picks up. People pay attention.
And people already know him. They’ve seen him grind through NXT and now main roster battles. That history helps. If he ends up carrying Raw after Gunther, it’ll feel right.
Replacing someone like Gunther won’t be easy. People will compare. Expectations will be sky-high. But Breakker has the charisma, the intensity, and the experience to pull it off.
In the end, Raw works best when it changes without losing its soul. Whether it’s Fatu’s wild energy, Femi’s fresh vibe, or Breakker’s complete package, these guys are ready for the spotlight.
When the time comes to pass the torch, Raw won’t shrink. It’ll just reinvent itself once again with these names leading the charge.
RANDY ORTON RETURNS TO RAW: THE VIPER PLANS TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED AGAINST CODY
Randy Orton is back on Raw after WrestleMania 42. We break down the fallout of his attack on the injured Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes.
So, Randy Orton’s next steps in WWE aren’t a secret anymore.
After his big match with Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42, fans wondered, “What now?” Sure, Orton lost, and that's put his championship chase on pause, but he's still sticking around at the main event level. In fact, that loss might be what kicks off something fresh for him.
WWE’s already made plans. Orton’s set to appear on Raw right after WrestleMania, and the company’s pushing his return pretty hard. They're not easing him back in; they're setting up something important, and it could shape where his story goes next.
That Raw is probably where Orton deals with the fallout from Vegas. He showed he’s still fired up, and that attitude is why WWE keeps trusting him in big spots. Word is, his segment on Raw will reveal whether he’s sticking with Rhodes as his target or shifting to a new rivalry.
There’s more going on, too. Rhodes got injured over WrestleMania weekend, which throws the championship picture into chaos. Nobody’s declared the title vacant yet, but WWE needs veterans to steady things. Orton’s timing here feels calculated, not random.
If Rhodes is out for a while, WWE’s got decisions to make, and Orton’s a natural part of the conversation. He’s got credibility, star power, and experience as champ. Even without the belt, he’s always central when things get messy.
But WWE isn’t tossing him back into a title shot right away. They’re trying to balance keeping things interesting in the short term while planning for the long haul. Instead of running it all back again, they might stretch the feud or have Orton spark a bigger storyline with multiple contenders.
Another thing Orton might not wrestle every week anymore. People close to it say WWE’s open to tweaking his schedule, focusing him on big episodes and premium events. That keeps him healthier and makes his appearances feel special.
This approach has worked for legends before. Less is more: smaller doses, bigger impact. For Orton, that means fewer routine matches and more meaningful rivalries. WWE sees him more as a major attraction now, not just another face in the weekly lineup.
On top of all this, Orton himself shut down retirement rumours. He says he’s still got years left on his WWE deal, so this isn’t some farewell tour. WrestleMania looks more like a turning point than an ending. He’s not stepping away; he’s shifting gears and setting up for what’s next. WWE’s counting on him to anchor things and help both rising stars and established names.
Looking ahead, Backlash is already getting mentioned as a spot where Orton could show up big. No official matches yet, but insiders say he’ll be a key player at upcoming big events. With the championship picture up in the air, WWE knows Orton draws eyes.
There’s chatter about throwing him into a multi-man storyline, too. That way, WWE keeps things fresh, avoids repeating the Rhodes feud too soon, and gives Orton the chance to take on different roles: main event, supporting, stirring the pot.
Right now, all eyes are on Raw. That’ll show whether he wants more with Rhodes or pivots to something new. With the title situation uncertain, whatever Orton says is going to matter. WWE doesn’t hype a return like this for nothing.
Expect something that feels important, a segment with impact, not just filler. Orton shines when the tension’s high and the next move isn’t obvious.
Bottom line: Orton’s not quietly fading out. WWE is positioning him for a run that could define the late stage of his career. He’s got the Raw return, championship drama, and a more flexible schedule, all signs that his presence is as crucial as ever.
