A new update has been provided on the highly anticipated farewell clash between John Cena and AJ Styles, which has been confirmed for WWE Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia. The match will be part of Cena’s ongoing retirement tour, with Triple H officially announcing the bout one day after Cena teased it on social media.
AJ Styles addressed the contest during an interview with ABEMA, explaining that he had not expected the opportunity to arise. “I am certainly happy for the opportunity to wrestle John Cena on his retirement tour. I did not think this was going to happen, it honestly just came out of nowhere, but I accept it, I want it, and me and John are going to have one last match and it’s going to be incredible.”
The match adds another chapter to a rivalry that has spanned multiple years and marquee events. Cena, who first hinted at the encounter through his own online channels, is preparing to close out a two-decade WWE career, while Styles has positioned the showdown as a chance to share the ring one final time with a longtime rival.
Before heading to Perth, Styles is also scheduled to appear on tonight’s edition of RAW, where he will team with Dragon Lee against Los Americanos.
While the Cena-Styles clash has been met with fan anticipation, it has also prompted backstage debate on how to frame the bout between two babyfaces. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray critiqued the booking on Busted Open Radio, stating the match lacked a traditional face-heel dynamic. He argued that injecting a mid-match heel turn would provide necessary intrigue, identifying Styles as the candidate to assume the role.