‘I Targeted John Cena’s Family

John Cena made many enemies during his full-time WWE career, waging war with several Hall of Famers, including this year’s inductee Triple H, 2011 inductee Shawn Michaels and 2017 inductee Kurt Angle.

The ‘Greatest of All-Time’ told the world that his ‘time was up’ and that 2025 would be his final year competing in the squared circle. The 47-year-old’s Farewell Tour has thrown up several tantalizing matches that could take place before he bids farewell to professional wrestling.

Fans dream of seeing Cena lock horns with former rival CM Punk and battle the new generation, such as World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. His first in-ring appearance this year came in the Royal Rumble match, although he wasn’t reunited with perhaps his fiercest rival, Randy Orton, whose feud was the focal point of WWE programming for over a decade and not even Cena’s father was safe.

Randy Orton Wants John Cena To Induct Him Into WWE Hall of Fame

The legendary duo have put a problematic past behind them

Randy Orton and John Cena are certain to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, even solely based on their lengthy rivalry that helped both superstars dominate the world title picture during their careers. They faced one another in singles competition on 123 occasions, which speaks volumes of how the creative team constantly pushed them into the main event scene.

The iconic pair’s on-screen issues don’t tell of their relationship beyond the ropes, as they have become good friends and often spoke of their immense respect for one another. Cena hailed Orton and highlighted his ‘genuine love and admiration for him in his maturity and growth as a human being’.

The Viper shares those sentiments about the two-time Royal Rumble winner and confirmed that he wants his greatest-ever rival to induct him into the Hall of Fame when he gets the call. He told Cody Rhodes on ‘So, What Do You Want To Talk About?’ in August 2024:

Cena is regarded as one of the best talkers in WWE history, and his inspiring and uplifting promos fit perfectly with Orton’s intense and evil retort. They produced magic each time they squared off in the ring, including their Breaking Point ‘I Quit Match’ in 2009 when they took their rivalry to another level using kendo sticks and handcuffs:

Cena’s decision to call time on his WWE career came amid becoming a successful Hollywood movie star, which is why Orton alluded to how busy he will likely be. He had previously inducted Kurt Angle into the Hall of Fame in 2017, another of his long list of rivals, but the Olympic Gold Medalist wasn’t as psychotic as the Apex Predator.

Randy Orton Made John Cena’s Life A Living Hell

The Viper targeted Cena’s father twice during their feud

Orton’s career rivals that of Cena’s, and you could argue that they were to the Ruthless Aggression era what Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were to European football. The Apex Predator is a 14-time world champion, two shy of his foe-turned-friend, and will have more than four years to chase that record after signing a five-year contract extension with WWE in the summer of 2024.

The friendly and down-to-earth Orton we have seen since he returned from a serious career-threatening spinal injury in 2023 was non-existent and inconceivable during the height of his war with Cena. The Legend Killer went to disturbing lengths to get under his enemy’s skin, taking out John Cena Sr.

Orton left Cena Sr. ‘unconscious’ on an episode of RAW in August 2007 after grabbing him from ringside seating and kicking him in the head. This made things personal between the duo, and seven years later, the then-World Heavyweight Champion was at it again, attacking Cena’s father in a similar fashion before the challenger raced to the ring to check on his old man.

Fans will be eager to see them reunited on WWE TV during the latter’s Farewell Tour and perhaps add one final match to their lengthy catalogue. It would be fitting for Cena’s final match to come against Orton ahead of his own potential Hall of Fame induction, and the Viper is one of the best candidates to induct the Cenation Leader.

Data courtesy of Cagematch – correct as of 22/02/2025.

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