A planned encounter between John Cena and AJ Styles, intended for Cena’s ongoing retirement tour, has been scrapped by WWE, according to a recent report. The report also noted that other potential opponents, such as Kevin Owens and Adam Copeland, were considered before being ruled out due to injury and contractual status, respectively.
The decision to remove the Styles match from the schedule is reportedly tied to the booking of a different major bout: a showdown between Cena and Brock Lesnar. That contest is expected to take place at WrestlePalooza on September 20, following Lesnar’s surprise attack on Cena at SummerSlam.
A final match between the two would have served as a tiebreaker in their storied rivalry. Cena and Styles battled extensively throughout 2016 and 2017, with their head-to-head singles record currently standing at two wins apiece.
While the match with Styles is no longer in the cards, John Cena’s final run has a clearly defined schedule heading into the end of the year. Following his upcoming bout against Logan Paul at Clash in Paris on August 31, only eight dates will remain in his career.
The final four major events of his tour are:
- Wrestlepalooza on September 20 in Indianapolis
- Crown Jewel on October 11 in Perth, Australia
- Survivor Series on November 29 in San Diego
- His final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14
The Saturday Night’s Main Event finale is speculated to be held in or near Boston, providing a hometown send-off for the West Newbury, Massachusetts native.
John Cena has publicly confirmed his retirement is definitive, stating in a June appearance on Good Morning America that there is “no way” he will return to the ring after December. He explained the decision was made to step aside for new talent and to honor the promise he made to fans during his farewell tour.