As John Cena prepares to step away from in-ring competition, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has praised the innovative way Cena is wrapping up his legendary career. Specifically, Booker T highlighted John Cena’s decision to hold a 16-man tournament to determine his final opponent as a move that could become a regular tradition in WWE retirements.
John Cena’s “Last Time Is Now” Tournament: A Unique Farewell
On November 2, 2025, Cena announced a first-of-its-kind tournament featuring 16 superstars from WWE’s various brands including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and potentially outside talent. The winner of this open competition will earn the privilege to face Cena in his final WWE match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025, held in Washington, D.C.[1]
The tournament is designed to give more wrestlers a shot at sharing the moment of honoring Cena’s career. Cena emphasized that the final matchup would not be handpicked but earned through competition, echoing his own start in WWE where he seized every opportunity given[1].
Booker T’s Perspective: Evolution of Retirement in WWE
In a recent discussion, Booker T lauded Cena’s retirement approach as refreshing and potentially setting a new norm. According to Booker, the inclusion of multiple WWE talents — spanning different brands and experience levels — reflects a desire to pass the torch in a competitive, merit-based manner.
“The way John is handling his retirement shows respect for the business and its future stars,” Booker said. “It’s not just about one final match; it’s about creating an opportunity for a lot of guys to get exposure, compete, and feel like they earned the spot. I think this is something WWE could start doing more regularly with retirements.”
Booker added that Cena’s tournament concept “gives credibility back to competition” in a business sometimes dominated by handpicked matches or storyline-driven farewells.
Behind the Scenes: WWE’s Support for the Tournament
Sources close to WWE revealed that the tournament was met with enthusiasm backstage. An insider explained, “WWE’s creative team sees this as a fresh way to build excitement heading into Cena’s retirement. It’s also a way to involve the locker room more broadly and spotlight new and established talent in a meaningful storyline.”
The insider noted that mixing superstars from all brands and even unexpected entrants has generated buzz among performers, who view it as an authentic challenge rather than a scripted send-off. “This is about honoring Cena but also about WWE evolving the retirement narrative,” the source said.
The Significance of Cena’s Final Match
John Cena’s final match will mark the end of a nearly two-decade career highlighted by 17 world championship reigns and his status as one of WWE’s most iconic figures. His retirement process contrasts with past legends who sometimes received a single farewell match decided behind the scenes.
Instead, Cena’s tournament promises to make his retirement feel like a celebration of competition and opportunity, offering stars from all tiers of WWE’s roster a genuine chance to step into the spotlight.
What This Could Mean for WWE’s Future Retirements
If successful, Cena’s tournament model may influence how WWE handles the retirements of their future stars. By placing emphasis on competition and connecting multiple brands and talents, WWE can create more engaging narratives and showcase rising stars.
As Booker T suggests, this could become the “new normal” for retirements, transforming them from isolated events into multi-week storytelling spectacles that unify different parts of WWE’s ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
John Cena’s retirement marks more than an individual farewell; it might set a new standard for how WWE blends legacy, competition, and storytelling. Booker T’s endorsement signals strong industry support for this creative approach.
Whether this tournament model catches on for future retirements remains to be seen, but sources close to WWE confirm that there is strong interest behind the scenes to build on Cena’s innovative send-off.
The “Last Time Is Now” tournament culminates December 13, 2025, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where one lucky competitor will share the ring with the legendary John Cena for an unforgettable final bout[2].