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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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John Cena’s final match is currently set for 'Saturday Night's Main Event' on December 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and his final opponent is being determined through the 16-man "The Last Time is Now" tournament. World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is not one of the competitors in the tournament, but he recently offered his opinion on who should have the honor of bringing the curtain down on Cena's career.
During an appearance on Up & Adams, CM Punk was asked who he thinks would be the perfect final opponent for Cena. Punk replied that, while it might sound like a bold claim, he believes he was the perfect choice.
The rivalry between Punk and Cena defined a large part of the 2010s in WWE, producing some of the most memorable matches and moments in the promotion's history. Their legendary match at 'Money in the Bank' in 2011, which saw Punk defeat Cena for the WWE Championship before absconding with the title, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Premium Live Event endings ever.
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Punk being the one to retire Cena would have been "kind of perfect" for many WWE fans, though it would have required Punk to be a heel of the "highest magnitude".
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With Punk not in the running, he offered his prediction for the tournament winner, choosing GUNTHER as the most likely opponent. As of the quarter-finals, GUNTHER and Solo Sikoa have advanced to the semi-finals on the Raw side of the bracket. The final two semi-finalists will be decided on tonight’s SmackDown broadcast.
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"Perfect, probably would've been me. I don’t know if it’s perfect, but it’s looking like GUNTHER. I’ve been in the ring with him, and I know what he can do. I don’t know who else in that tournament can beat him right now," Punk said.
Solo Sikoa awaits GUNTHER in the semi-final, with the other half of the bracket featuring two quarter-final matches on SmackDown tonight: Rusev going to war with Jey Uso, and LA Knight squaring off against Sheamus' replacement. Sheamus was forced out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
The idea of GUNTHER winning makes sense creatively for WWE, as he has already defeated Goldberg in a retirement match and has a storyline where he sends aging wrestlers out to pasture. The WWE continues to push both Jey Uso as a strong singles star and LA Knight as a major fan favorite.
While the winner of the tournament will face Cena on December 13, Cena is first scheduled to defend his Intercontinental Championship against Dominik Mysterio at 'Survivor Series' this weekend, marking his second-to-last match in WWE.
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