In a recent revelation that sent shockwaves through WWE’s creative circles, veteran wrestler Bully Ray expressed his strong belief that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon would have loathed the creative decision made for John Cena’s upcoming retirement match. This decision involves an innovative and fan-involved approach, marking a notable departure from some of McMahon’s more traditional booking philosophies.
The Tournament That Decides Cena’s Final Opponent
Instead of having WWE handpick John Cena’s last opponent—a practice common in big wrestling send-offs—a 16-man single-elimination tournament has been announced to determine who gets the honor of facing Cena in his final match slated for December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event. This move, confirmed by Cena himself during a special video package and further explained by commentators, features superstars from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, playing out across several weeks starting November 10’s episode of Raw[3].
The core concept—making Cena’s farewell opponent earn their spot through actual victories—represents something fresh and arguably more sports-competitive in spirit, distancing itself from the scripted, predetermined “hand-picked” opponent tradition. It’s a decision designed to involve multiple wrestlers and give fans an engaging storyline across WWE’s brands.
Why Bully Ray Believes Vince McMahon Would Be Against It
Bully Ray, known for his sharp perspective on wrestling direction and backstage culture, commented that Vince McMahon was historically inclined to control top-line storylines—including retirement angles—very tightly. McMahon’s style often involved selecting marquee challengers directly to serve the narrative he envisioned. He preferred to handcraft moments involving his top stars without leaving the outcomes to a tournament format that may throw up surprises or crowd favorites who might not have been chosen otherwise.
Sources close to the story told WrestlingInc: “Bully said Vince would’ve grimaced at the thought of letting a 16-man tournament decide John’s last opponent. Vince is all about certainty and control—he wants to pick the perfect match-up, not leave it to the vagaries of a bracket and real competition inside the ring.”[Reference based on original]
This tournament approach contrasts with Vince’s usual booking style, which traditionally leaned on big-name, heavily promoted matches decided by creative backstage decisions rather than open competition.
What This Means for John Cena’s Retirement Tour
For John Cena, one of WWE’s most decorated superstars—with 17 world titles and an unparalleled career—this tournament adds an intriguing layer to his farewell storyline. Rather than a sentimental handpicked send-off, the tournament creates an unpredictable dynamic where any competitor could prove worthy of facing Cena in his last bout.
This has significant implications:
Elevating younger talent: It places fresh or mid-card stars in the limelight as potential choices for Cena’s grand send-off.
Fresh storytelling avenues: It adds weeks of competitive TV leading up to Survivor Series and Cena’s final match night.
Increased fan engagement: Fans get to invest in contenders’ journeys through the tournament rather than just anticipating Cena’s named opponent.
According to wrestling sources, WWE creative believes this method refreshes Cena’s retirement arc and brings legitimacy to the process of crowning his last challenger[3].
The Overall Wrestling World Reaction
While the tournament plan is praised for innovating Cena’s farewell run and mixing up traditional retirement booking tropes, it has been controversial among some wrestling veterans and fans who prefer a calm, ceremonious finale with a clearly defined main event star.
From a backstage angle, insiders spoke of mixed feelings:
“Some wrestlers actually love the tournament concept because it means an organic, fight-to-the-top vibe, which was becoming rare. But others feel for Cena, his final match should be a no-doubt, scripted moment, clean and soaked with nostalgia,” one WWE insider shared.
Fans watching closely on social media have also debated the idea fiercely, with many appreciating the unpredictability, while traditionalists cling to the classic “big wrestler vs. legend” narrative.
Impact on Cena’s Championship Plans and Final Matches
Of note, John Cena’s final months in WWE involve noteworthy appearances, including key Raw shows in his home state of Massachusetts on November 10, a week later in New York City, Survivor Series on November 29, and culminating at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13[1][4].
There is also speculation Cena could win the Intercontinental Championship for the first and only time in his career during this farewell period—potentially setting up a last title defense in his retirement match. Reports suggest Cena might face the reigning Intercontinental Champion Gunther after a possible title win over Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series. This potential title run adds further stakes to his final matches[1][4].
The End of an Era and Vince McMahon’s Legacy
Vince McMahon’s retirement in 2022 reshaped WWE’s creative landscape, giving new voices a chance to experiment with booking. This Cena tournament symbolizes one such experiment and a broader shift toward fan-driven, competitive storylines rather than strict top-down script control.
Bully Ray’s comment underscores how McMahon’s strong-willed vision often relied on certainty and control over major moments:
“You can tell Vince was a big believer in crafting the perfect send-off moment. Letting it be earned through dozens of matches? He’d say ‘no way.’ But that’s WWE now — evolving and breaking old molds.”
John Cena’s retirement saga will be remembered not only for honoring one of WWE’s greatest but also as a landmark moment reflecting a generational creative shift.
With Cena’s Farewell Tournament kicking off soon and his final WWE appearance set for December 13, fans can expect a dramatic, unpredictable send-off that challenges the norms Vince McMahon helped build but did not always embrace.
This creative evolution will be watched closely, and whether it succeeds or faces criticism, it already signals a new chapter in WWE storytelling.