Wrestling news: John Cena’s final opponent confirmed as Gunther wins Last Time Is Now Tournament
John Cena’s final-ever opponent has been confirmed, with the 17-time World Champion set to face former Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion, ‘The Ring General’ Gunther.
Gunther earned the right to be the final adversary of Cena’s legendary career by winning the Last Time Is Now Tournament.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at the highly anticipated matchup.
Cena never gives up
What are the three words that have defined Cena’s career? Never. Give. Up.
Cena has never given in when it has gotten tough – just look at his I Quit, Last Man Standing, Iron Man, and even some regular one-on-one matches.
He always fought his way out from underneath and won.
Saturday night will be the last test for the hero that is Cena as he looks to celebrate a final outing with a victory – but to do that, he must once again fight out from underneath.
After all, that is what defined Cena’s early years on top, and one cannot help but wonder if this version of Cena can survive the onslaught and win the match.
The real final boss
Every great babyface needs a perfect villain.
For that, you need look no further than Gunther, whose mantra is protecting the mat and making opponents surrender in the ring through his brute nature.
‘The Ring General’ has already put down one legend this year in the form of Bill Goldberg and will want to add another name to a growing list.
When you watch any of his matches, he’s always viciously beating down his opponents – using strong chops and technical moves – until they have nothing left to give.
Indeed, LA Knight gave it his all in the final of Last Time Is Now, but the Hollywood megastar was ultimately locked in a submission that forced him to tap out.
This is what makes Gunther such a threat: he doesn’t always need to use his powerbomb finisher.
He’s a final boss – he does not stop and he will not quit as he relentlessly punishes you into pinfall or submission.
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Classic hero vs villain
Sometimes, keeping it simple works in the world of pro wrestling.
Cena is a man who has often spoken of hustle, loyalty, respect, and never giving up.
He is a hero looking to end his career on a high note, even if it means he has to fight from behind and overcome a brutal beatdown.
Most certainly, he will give it his all – one last babyface effort from the hero who has stuck by those words for over two decades.
In the case of Gunther, though, sentimentality isn’t likely to be on the mind.
‘The Ring General’ is going to want to get straight back into the title picture on Raw, especially with Royal Rumble around the corner too.
If that means leaving marks on Cena’s chest and putting down the ‘greatest of all time’ on his last night, perhaps even by tapping him out, then so be it.
Of course, Cena hasn’t tapped out since No Way Out in 2004, when Kurt Angle managed an ankle lock.
In the end, Gunther couldn’t have been a better matchup for Cena’s last fight in the final Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025.
Cena, the iconic babyface, has one last challenge to overcome – a monster villain, one who has a proven track record of making opponents give up.
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