John Cena Names Two Best WWE Superstars He’s Shared Ring With

The curtain will fall on the career of WWE legend John Cena this weekend. The conclusion of the star’s time in the ring will play out in front of a packed house at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

The ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament, for the opportunity to face Cena, has come down to just one man that will stand in front of the legend for the very last time. Gunther will be the final opponent for the 17-time world champion’s last dance on Saturday, the 13th of December.

Cena has been understandably nostalgic about those that he has faced during a glittering WWE career that has spanned over 25 years during his year-long retirement tour. A recent appearance on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’, however, produced perhaps the toughest question of the media tour that Cena has embarked on since his retirement was announced.

John Cena’s Best WWE Opponents

He was asked to name three, but he immediately gave two

Simmons asked Cena to name the three best wrestlers he’s shared a ring with throughout his career. Massachusetts-born Cena, who debuted in professional wrestling back in 1999, was able to bring two names out straight away, despite the fact he’s fought the very best the business has had to offer over the years.

“The three best people I’ve ever wrestled are… Shawn Michaels, Seth Rollins… and it is very tough to narrow down to a third,” he said.

Despite catching Michaels in the twilight of his career, Cena still rates ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ as one of the finest ever to grace the ring. Discussing HBK, Cena stated: “He [Michaels] could make this [picks up a book] a champion. He would look at that and go, ‘Okay, I’ve got to bump around for that book, then I’m going to Superkick the book, and then beautifully all on top of it at the same time.'”

Seth Rollins also features in Cena’s top three. Rollins famously ended his 147-day heavyweight championship reign at SummerSlam in 2015. The ‘Winner Takes All’ match became legendary and cemented the former’s place on Cena’s podium of the best wrestlers he’s ever faced.

As for a third, that was a little more tricky for Cena to conclude. The star noted such talents as Randy Orton, AJ Styles, CM Punk, Edge, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as having had chemistry with during various matches down the years. In the end, no definitive pick was made for the third opponent, with a cluster of stars for the fans to choose for themselves producing an equally difficult decision, no doubt.

John Cena Also Gave Special Praise to Cody Rhodes

Cena gave particular credit to one WWE Superstar when asked a follow-up question by Simmons. The presenter went on to ask which WWE talent had done the most to take the leap from where they had originally been placed on the card. This time around, Cena had no hesitation in naming his pick.

The WWE legend chose Cody Rhodes as his choice. Cena cited Rhodes’ ambition to surpass his father’s legacy in the wrestling business. Dusty Rhodes, a former champion and Hall of Fame inductee, was a prominent figure in the wrestling business. Since Dusty’s death in 2015, Cody departed the WWE and then dramatically returned in 2022, going on to hold the belt his father never got the chance to, the Undisputed WWE Championship.

“Cody, Cody Rhodes,” Cena said. “He asked for his release from the company and left… I felt he had, man, the first time I heard that kid speak was at the Hall of Fame in Chicago, when he and his brother inducted his dad. And I’m like front row going, ‘I’m out of a job… This kid is coming for me. I better go back and practice.’ And, you know, generational talents have big shoes to fill. And gosh, he did the best he could with what he had, but he realised if you start up here and watch the stock go down.

The wrestling world will bid an emotional farewell to one of their most iconic figures on Saturday as the nation’s capital gathers to celebrate the career of John Cena in what is set to be an epic showdown in Washington, DC.