John Cena is scheduled to face Logan Paul this Sunday, August 31, at Clash in Paris, marking a significant stop on his 2025 farewell tour. The match at the Paris La Défense Arena will be Cena’s first time wrestling in front of a French audience in over a decade.
The feud ignited on the episode of SmackDown following SummerSlam when Paul challenged the 17-time world champion. The initial confrontation, which also involved Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, led to a tag team match that ended abruptly when Paul delivered a low blow to Cena, causing a disqualification.
Their upcoming premium live event match was made official on the August 8 broadcast of SmackDown from Montreal. During the segment, Paul specifically challenged Cena to a bout in a “French-speaking” location, leading to a brawl that ended with Cena accepting the match for Paris.
Tensions escalated dramatically on the August 22 edition of SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland. Cena delivered a blistering promo, labeling Paul a “parasite” who was only using WWE as a branding opportunity. The segment concluded with Cena hitting his signature Attitude Adjustment on Paul in the middle of the ring.
Paul’s response came later that night. In the final moments of the broadcast, he ambushed Cena in a backstage area, knocking him out to close the show.
While the on-screen rivalry has reached a boiling point, the booking has generated mixed reactions. Critics and some fans have labeled it a “wasted match” on Cena’s limited retirement tour, arguing it’s a “dead-end” feud that fails to elevate other talent. Cena himself acknowledged this sentiment during a recent promo, listing names like AJ Styles, Jacob Fatu, and Dominik Mysterio as other wrestlers he hoped to face.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel on August 27, Logan Paul fired back at his critics and Cena’s “parasite” comment. Angered by the reception from the Dublin crowd, Paul defended his value to the company, stating, “You know how many impressions I’ve given this company? Why do you think I’m hired?… For him to tell the whole arena and everyone watching that I take from this industry, the fcking audacity, bro.”*
Despite the intense on-screen animosity, Cena has praised Paul’s abilities as a performer. During an appearance at Fan Expo Chicago, he called Paul “underrated” and predicted he would be a future champion, stating, “He’s not an outsider. He belongs in WWE.”
The match at Clash in Paris is one of the final stops on Cena’s farewell tour. His remaining schedule is as follows:
- August 29: WWE SmackDown in Lyon, France
- August 31: WWE Clash in Paris in Paris, France
- September 5: WWE SmackDown in Chicago, Illinois
- September 15: WWE Raw in Springfield, Massachusetts
- October 10: WWE SmackDown in Perth, Australia
- October 11: WWE Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia
- October 13: WWE Raw in Perth, Australia