John Cena Open to Facing The Rock Again Under One Condition

John Cena isn’t necessarily against facing The Rock one final time during his retirement tour, but he’s not going to make that happen unless WWE wants it.

While speaking during FAN EXPO Denver 2025, a fan asked John Cena if he would have one last match against The Rock during his farewell tour. The fan was imagining a big rematch to end Cena’s WWE career. Cena didn’t confirm or deny it, but he shared his thoughts on how he approaches his work in WWE.

The Undisputed WWE Champion said fans often dream up matches like that; what he called “fantasy booking.” He agreed that fighting The Rock again would be cool, but explained that he doesn’t like to set big expectations. For 25 years he’s stayed grounded by showing up, doing his job and giving his best every day.

“Gosh. Fantasy booking. For those who are not inside baseball, fantasy booking is when you take an idea in your head and you’re like, ‘Man, it would be cool if…’ That’s what I’m hearing here. ‘Man, it would be cool if John Cena could fight The Rock one more time.’ And that—to me—that would be cool.

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I’ve survived and kept a level head over 25 years in the WWE by not setting expectations, by showing up every single day, doing what I’m told, and asking to do it to the best of my ability.”

Cena made it clear he doesn’t pick his opponents. Instead, he focuses on how to tell a great story in the ring. He wants to be involved in the creative part so he can take responsibility for the outcome, whether it’s a success or a failure.

The former Leader of Cenation mentioned how some fans blame him for burying The Nexus’s and he accepts that. But he also feels proud when people say he’s doing his best work now. For Cena, it’s not about choosing who to fight. It’s about being trusted to help shape the story. He’s thankful that WWE lets him try different ideas, even some that are risky or unusual.

“Where I ask for freedom—where I ask for creative expression—is not in the selection of my opponent. It is in the process of how we put forth the work to you guys. That way, I can be accountable for all my failures.

You guys say I buried The Nexus? I gotta shoulder that cross forever, ‘cause that’s me. But there are some wins along the way. Some people say, ‘Man, you’re doing your best work now… you seem like you’re in a different place,’ and I can live that triumph as well.

I don’t like to choose opponents because a lot of times that doesn’t work out. What I like to do is get a plan and say, ‘Hey, as the artist, can I be creative with the plan?’ And I’ve earned enough trust that they’ll let me do some stupid stuff—and I appreciate it.”

The Rock hasn’t been seen since Elimination Chamber 2025, where he appeared with John Cena and Travis Scott, and Cena sold his soul to The Final Boss. It’s unclear if Cena and The Rock will ever face each other again, so fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.

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