Rusev is making a strong case to be John Cena’s final opponent, and he’s promising it won’t be a celebratory farewell. In a recent interview with Box Catch, the Raw superstar was blunt about his intentions if he gets the match in December. “Will I hurt him? Yes, sir. Will I beat him? Yes, sir. So maybe I’m not going to be an appropriate opponent for a farewell John Cena because you’re going to hurt him too much.”
The challenge is deeply rooted in their shared history. Rusev famously carried a year-long undefeated streak after his main roster debut in 2014, a run that was decisively ended by Cena at WrestleMania 31. For the Bulgarian competitor, ending Cena’s career would be fitting payback. “He started my career, now I can end his, which is going to be very appropriate and—and karma always strikes back, you know, at the end of the day.”
This potential matchup fits the theme of Cena’s ongoing retirement tour, which has seen him face off against past rivals including CM Punk, Randy Orton, and R-Truth.
Rusev isn’t just talking from the sidelines; he’s an active and dangerous force on Monday nights. Following a hard-hitting feud with Sheamus, he picked up another win on the September 8th edition of Raw in Milwaukee, defeating Penta. Commentary even noted that since his return to WWE earlier this year, Rusev appears “lighter,” “leaner,” and “more agile,” positioning him as a credible threat to give Cena a brutal sendoff.