As AEW prepares to close out 2025 with its Worlds End pay-per-view on December 27 at the NOW Arena in Chicago, WWE is rumored to be working on a bold counter – potentially scheduling John Cena’s final match for the exact same night.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Cena’s retirement match was initially expected to take place on the December 13 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, internal conversations within WWE have reportedly shifted toward a new strategy: having Cena’s final WWE appearance go head-to-head with AEW’s event to siphon away viewers and media attention.
Insiders claim that this potential move is more than just about ratings for one night. WWE is allegedly trying to weaken AEW’s negotiating power for its upcoming media rights renewal. The belief is that if AEW continues pulling strong numbers, it could secure a significantly more lucrative TV deal – something WWE reportedly wants to prevent. The Observer noted that WWE wants to put AEW out of business by taking Tony Khan “out of the box.”
To strengthen their position in the wrestling industry’s hierarchy, WWE is also said to be actively supporting TNA’s resurgence, hoping to boost it as a stable No. 2 promotion under WWE’s sphere of influence. This tactic would allow WWE to keep tighter control of the wrestling landscape, in contrast to AEW’s independent status under Tony Khan.
There were also reports suggesting WWE might book another major Cena match – possibly against Brock Lesnar – on September 20, the same day AEW is scheduled to present All Out 2025. While that card remains unannounced, the timing would mirror the strategy being considered for December.
As of now, WWE has not officially confirmed the date of John Cena’s final match. His next scheduled match is at Clash in Paris on August 31, where he will face Logan Paul.
Should WWE move forward with the December 27 plan, wrestling fans could be looking at one of the most competitive nights in recent memory – with two major events and one of the sport’s biggest names bowing out, all in the span of a few hours.
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