As John Cena’s career winds down toward a final match scheduled for this December, one former rival believes there’s unfinished business. Former WWE star David Otunga has an idea for Cena’s send-off, and it’s not a celebration—it’s payback.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Otunga revisited the infamous 7-on-7 elimination match at SummerSlam 15 years ago, where Team WWE defeated The Nexus. That loss is widely viewed as the moment that derailed the faction’s momentum, and Otunga puts the blame squarely on one man.
“The SummerSlam thing, that was a disaster. We should have won that. That completely cut the legs out from under us. Everybody agreed (Nexus should have won) but one person. John Cena.”
With that frustration still lingering, Otunga feels it would be a major oversight if Cena retires without facing repercussions from the group he helped dismantle. “And to be honest with you, I think it’s a travesty if he retires without The Nexus coming back to whoop his a—s. I think that’s what should happen.”
He even laid out a scenario for their revenge: “He should be about to break the record, all of a sudden, who comes out of the crowd, who pops up on the ring—boom, it’s payback. Here’s your receipt, our receipt.” (h/t WrestleTalk)
While a full-scale Nexus reunion is unlikely, as the faction officially disbanded more than a decade ago, the idea taps into a long-running debate among fans about how the group was booked. Of the original SummerSlam lineup, only Wade Barrett remains with WWE, now serving as a commentator.