WWE Scripted the AJ Styles vs. John Cena “Final Match” Drama from the Start

That John Cena vs. AJ Styles match fans thought might not happen? Turns out it was all part of WWE’s plan.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the long-teased bout set for WWE Crown Jewel in Australia was never in doubt—it was always booked and just part of a calculated move to make fans think it was slipping away.

Over the past week, Cena’s cryptic social media posts fueled speculation. From hinting at retirement to tagging Triple H directly, the storyline felt real enough to make fans nervous. But Meltzer says that’s exactly what WWE wanted.

“The idea was they’d tell people ‘you’re not going to get this match’ — so to create a demand for the match, they basically told the story that Cena is paying tribute to him because he’s only got limited dates, and AJ ain’t getting it.”

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Adding fuel to the fire, Styles delivered an emotional promo after Raw went off the air, venting about being overlooked. According to Meltzer, that wasn’t a shoot—it was more scripted build-up designed to lead right into this match.

This isn’t just another match between two legends. Cena and Styles had an unforgettable rivalry from 2016 to 2018, including their classic Royal Rumble clash in 2017 where Cena tied Ric Flair’s record by beating Styles for his 16th world title. Fans still talk about that bout as one of the best of the last decade.

Now, the two icons are set to run it back one last time at WWE Crown Jewel on October 11 in Perth, Australia. Cena’s retirement tour continues after that, with only two Raw appearances in November, Survivor Series on November 29, and his officially scheduled final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.

WWE worked the fans hard on this one—but did it pay off? Are you glad Cena vs. Styles is really happening, or do you think the fake-out was too much? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you’re hyped for this final showdown.