Backstage News On WWE’s Plans For John Cena’s Farewell Schedule

During his appearance on this past Monday’s “WWE Raw,” the 17-time World Champion confirmed that just eighteen dates remain on his farewell tour, a stark and finite countdown for one of professional wrestling’s most enduring figures.

While Cena has averaged roughly one match per month this year, those hoping for a final, grueling run of classic bouts may need to adjust their expectations. According to Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer Radio,” the reality of this final chapter will be more about presence than performance.

“Those 18 are not matches, most of them are going to be TVs where he’s not wrestling. So you know, there could be others, he’s probably going to be a babyface at the end, so there might be a big heel that he works with on the last show. You got to figure he’s going to be babyface at the end.”

Still, there is fighting left to be done. Cena’s next scheduled match is a significant one: a defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship against his storied rival, CM Punk, at the upcoming Night Of Champions event. He is also slated to appear on this Friday’s “WWE SmackDown” in Lexington, Kentucky, and the following week’s broadcast from San Antonio, Texas.

For the millions who grew up with his “Never Give Up” mantra, this final countdown is a powerful reflection of time’s unyielding passage. The man who seemed for so long to be an indestructible fixture of the main event scene is now facing the same public farewell as the legends who came before him.