As John Cena’s legendary career comes to a close, new details have emerged about his final scheduled appearances for WWE. On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer provided an update to Cena’s farewell tour schedule. However, this news comes during a period where a significant portion of the audience has voiced criticism that WWE has fumbled the handling of the iconic superstar’s final run as an active competitor.
While many fans have expressed happiness at seeing Cena back, others have pointed to several creative decisions that have hampered the tour’s momentum. The initial heel turn, which saw Cena win his 17th World Title, was largely rejected by fans who preferred to cheer the superstar in his final months. This, combined with a lack of consistent appearances on Raw and SmackDown to build his upcoming matches, led to a feeling that the tour lacked a clear direction.
The criticism reached a high point following Cena’s decisive and quick loss to Brock Lesnar at the Wrestlepalooza event. The manner of the defeat left many fans unsatisfied and furthered the narrative that the retirement tour was not being booked with the prestige many felt it deserved.
In response to the fan reaction, WWE appeared to “course correct” Cena’s creative direction during SummerSlam weekend, turning him back into the classic babyface character that made him a global icon. The move was well-received, but with only a few dates left before his final match, the company is now working with limited time to conclude his story.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer provided the latest update on Cena’s few remaining dates. He corrected a previous report about an appearance in Salt Lake City and confirmed a new, major match. “His other match, I knew he had another match coming up that hadn’t been announced, but it’s actually for the Petco Park show in San Diego. So he’s on Survivor Series on that show,” Meltzer stated.
With his retirement match set for a special Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, Cena’s remaining schedule is quickly filling up. In addition to Crown Jewel (vs. AJ Styles) and now Survivor Series, he is also scheduled for television tapings in Boston and Madison Square Garden, though it is unconfirmed if he will wrestle on those shows. “I believe that’s all his appearances left, unless he makes a new deal,” Meltzer said. With time running out, the question of who will face Cena in his final match remains the last major piece of the puzzle for his storied career.
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