WHAT IF? JOHN CENA WAS IN AEW!

Article courtesy of Ridwan Aman

John Cena in AEW? This is something that will probably NEVER happen, but let me have some fun with it. There’s a saying, “Never Say Never,” and it’s especially true in professional wrestling. We’ve seen wrestlers come back from retirement, serious illnesses, and even near-death situations (looking at you, Undertaker), and have some of their best runs.

Who’s to say that couldn’t happen in my fantasy wrestling world? I’ve been wanting to write this for a while, and there’s no better time than now to share this (im)possible, “industry-changing” scenario.

As John Cena prepares to wrap up his incredible career after over 23 years of entertaining fans as a rapper, military veteran, entertainer, and above all, a pro wrestler (shoutout to his amazing 2015 matches), I want to wish him all the best in what could be his final year in wrestling.

By December 2025, he might officially retire (though retirements in wrestling are never certain). Cena was already rising to the top when I first started watching, and he’s remained one of the industry’s greatest while building a hugely successful acting career.

He’s done it all, including being the ultimate Make-A-Wish ambassador. That got me thinking: why not imagine Cena bringing some fresh energy to the place “Where The Best Wrestle!”? As of January 10, 2025, Cena has announced his entry into this year’s Royal Rumble, marking the start of his farewell tour. But since this is my blog, let’s flip the script. Here’s my take on what a potential John Cena run in AEW could look like:

AEW BIG BUSINESS (open to other names): 12th FEBRUARY 2025 eminating from Boston, Ma. => AEW REVOLUTION 2025 from Los Angeles, CA.

Let’s start on familiar grounds. AEW President Tony Khan announces a special AEW Dynamite episode at the TD Garden in Boston, MA, teasing one of his biggest announcements yet. Around the same time, Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) starts leaning into a new storyline, embracing his gimmick as a Hollywood actor who’s also great at wrestling—playfully jabbing at those “less famous Miz” comparisons.

MJF would be Cena’s first AEW opponent, giving Cena a strong introduction while helping rebuild MJF’s momentum. MJF is already a big name with crossover appeal thanks to his movie roles, but his buzz has faded a bit since the Adam Cole feud, so this would give him a major storyline to shine.

Before Cena’s debut, AEW wrestlers would drop hints. The reigning world champion might use lines like “Recognize” or “The Champ is Here,” while a top babyface like Will Ospreay could say “You Want Some, Come Get Some” during the go-home show. There could also be clever nods, like Kenny Omega wearing themed shirts every week (similar to the “Cookie Monster” and “Chick Magnet” shirts that teased CM Punk’s debut) or Athena showing off her spinner ROH Women’s Championship on TV.

As part of the build-up, MJF could mock Cena’s military veteran persona and take shots at Cena’s rap gimmick. He might even target Max Caster, who calls himself the “Best Wrestler Alive,” to bolster his own claim as the “Greatest Crossover Star in Pro Wrestling.”

This all builds to a major showdown at AEW’s ‘Big Business’ event. The show kicks off with Cena’s iconic theme, “My Time Is Now,” as the Boston crowd erupts, celebrating a hero they’ve waited years to see. They hail Cena as a “god and savior” of the sport, soaking in the moment. Cena takes the mic to thank the fans for their years of support and belief in him. Staying true to his nature, he makes some self-deprecating jokes before vowing to “Never Give Up.”

He explains his mission in AEW: to prove he can still compete as the greatest wrestler in the place “Where The Best Wrestle.” This enrages MJF, who has been mocking Cena for weeks to get his attention, only to be ignored. MJF delivers an angry tirade, claiming that wrestling no longer needs a “has-been” like Cena and declaring that “MJF’s Time Is Now.”

What follows is an epic promo battle between two of the best talkers in the business. Cena warns MJF that if he stops putting in the work (a nod to MJF’s recent dip in form), someone will take his spot as the franchise player—and it might even be Cena himself. Cena then challenges MJF to a match at AEW Revolution on March 9th in Los Angeles, CA. With both stars having Hollywood ties, the location adds to the hype, promising great “Business” (pun intended) for AEW.

Leading up to the match, Cena doubts his ability as a wrestler, while MJF picks up momentum with a series of squash matches. To mock Cena, MJF uses moves like the ‘Attitude Adjustment’ and ‘Five Knuckle Shuffle’ on his opponents, including Max Caster. At AEW Revolution, Cena and MJF deliver a thrilling 23-minute match.

Cena, showing some ring rust, struggles against a sharp and focused MJF. Selling an injured arm, Cena battles through MJF’s Fujiwara Armbar and eventually secures the win with three ‘Attitude Adjustments’ despite his bad arm. The victory gives Cena a much-needed boost in his AEW run while elevating MJF’s stock, making him an even bigger draw for AEW.

As Cena is done with MJF, he puts MJF over as a wrestler with immense future star power to take this company to new heights. He acknowledges greatness when he sees it, and ensures that while he’s still here to show that he’s a great wrestler, he has a lot to prove and puts it on himself to prove further and to make sure he can still hang with the best around.

This leads to an open-challenge at the following AEW Dynasty PPV. He remains absent from most of the PPV build as he takes time off to shoot his new movie, but returns to wrestle AT the PPV, where his challenge is answered by Jack Perry, another similarly Hollywood-rooted star. Jack is moving towards the end of his ‘Scapegoat’ character and challenges Cena as the son of a Hollywood star and if he can hang.

At the PPV, Perry puts up a good fight but Cena defeats him with a couple of Attitude Adjustments. After the match Cena & Perry shake hands, which tickles the Young Bucks’ & Okada’s feathers, prompting to their respective staredowns to future teases as they take Jack to the back.

AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2025 (Las Vegas, Nevada)

After defeating Jack Perry at Dynasty, Cena appears on Dynamite and announces his goal to win championships in AEW and prove he’s the best wrestler. This catches the attention of Don Callis, who questions if Cena can be the “best wrestler” without being an “Alpha.” Callis then sends Konosuke Takeshita to attack Cena, joined by the rest of the Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage, and Lance Archer).

The attack brings out Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, Buddy Matthews, and Brody King, who have been feuding with the Callis Family for months. They make the save for Cena, which sets up future matches between Cena and these top babyfaces, especially Kenny and Ospreay. Brody and Buddy’s involvement also ties back to their recent hardcore match with Cage and Archer at the last pay-per-view.

On the next Dynamite, Cena has his first AEW TV match against Brian Cage. After a tough battle, Cena picks up the win, but Archer and Takeshita attack him post-match. Buddy and Brody step in to make the save, leading to a six-man tag on the following Collision. The babyfaces win the tag match, and afterward, Cena challenges Takeshita for the International Championship at Double or Nothing.

At the pay-per-view, Cena defeats Takeshita in a match-of-the-year contender to win the International Championship. This also allows Takeshita to shift focus to his Japan dates, including a big run in the G1 Climax, while continuing as the NEVER Openweight Champion (as of now). Big things are on the horizon for Takeshita, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him!

After winning the International Championship from Takeshita, Cena brings back the Open Challenge concept on AEW weekly TV, similar to his memorable United States Championship run. His first challenger is none other than “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy, the longest-reigning champion. Cassidy puts up a valiant fight but narrowly loses, earning Cena’s respect and a heartfelt post-match acknowledgment.

Cena continues defending the title on Dynamite and Collision against a mix of stars, including Roderick Strong (a must-see match), Kyle O’Reilly, Claudio Castagnoli, Komander, Dante Martin, Lio Rush, Mark Briscoe, Sammy Guevara, and more. These matches not only solidify Cena as a regular presence in AEW but also give a platform to rising talents, showcasing their skills in high-stakes matches against a legend.

Cena also faces off against veteran wrestlers like Jeff Jarrett and Christopher Daniels, both approaching the twilight of their careers. There’s even a decisive win over Chris Jericho, adding to Cena’s legacy as a fighting champion. By taking on a wide range of opponents, Cena reinforces his competitive spirit and delivers thrilling moments for both fans and wrestlers alike.

AEW ALL IN (Arlington, TX)

Cena’s constant weekly wins draws the ire of MVP & the Hurt Syndicate, who have been Cena’s notable adversaries in the past. MVP takes umbrage to the fact that Cena, being a so-called ‘part timer’ for a few years has been getting these opportunities handed to him but a guy like Bobby Lashley, who has fought for all his opportunities for decades still wait in the wings.

MVP initially offers Cena a ‘golden ticket’ to join the Hurt Syndicate which turns out a ruse as Bobby & Shelton Benjamin (who is now the ROH World Champion) beat Cena up mercilessly, leaving him a bloody mess (Cena takes time off to shoot more movies; while staying true to his nature he juggles both movie & wrestling duties while he’s on screen). Lashley parades around weekly TV as an ‘uncrowned champion’ with his own International appeal and claims to be the ‘Son of Texas’ (as he’s billed from Dallas, TX) with a guaranteed beatdown of Dustin Rhodes as a statement of intent to beat Cena (you also crossover Dustin and shine a light on ROH in build to All In).

Lashley challenges Cena to an International title match at All In: Texas which Cena happily accepts, and beats him in a near-fought match to retain his belt. While Bobby acknowledges Cena as the greatest, he walks away from a potential handshake spot post match but there’s a bigger moment in store that happens post-match….

AEW FORBIDDEN DOOR (WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM)

After defeating Bobby Lashley, the arena goes dark, and “LOVE & ENERGY” plays, accompanied by vibrant visuals on the screen. This signals the arrival of one man—the President of New Japan Pro Wrestling, “The Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi appears to shake Cena’s hand and challenges him to a match for the International Championship at the following month’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view in London. The idea couldn’t be more fitting for the title’s international prestige (and it’s a dream match for countless wrestling fans worldwide).

The build to this clash is straightforward: two generational icons from their respective wrestling worlds colliding in a historic encounter. To prepare for this massive showdown, Cena continues his Open Challenges, facing international stars like Jeff Cobb, Hechicero, SANADA, Tomohiro Ishii, and Mascara Dorada. This keeps the excitement high while showcasing the global nature of the title.

At Forbidden Door, held at Wembley Stadium (in this story) in front of over 90,000 fans, the atmosphere is electric. The match lives up to its billing as a once-in-a-lifetime event. Cena emerges victorious after delivering three Attitude Adjustments to Tanahashi, with brilliant moments like countering a Slingblade into a Proto-Bomb and catching a High Fly Flow mid-air to deliver the decisive AA. Afterward, both men bow to each other in a heartfelt show of respect, hinting at future encounters.

However, Cena’s celebration is short-lived. Claudio Castagnoli ambushes him from behind, cashing in his chip from a Casino Battle Royale victory to challenge for the title. Claudio, still upset about a previous loss to Cena during an Open Challenge, capitalizes on the exhausted champion and becomes the new International Champion.

Cena’s 92-day reign elevates the International Championship into one of the most prestigious titles in wrestling. Claudio’s victory serves as both a “passing of the torch” moment from Cena to one of AEW’s most dependable stars and a boost for both Claudio and Tanahashi, who benefit from the mainstream attention Cena brings. This also becomes Cena’s first loss in AEW which is a pretty big deal for someone like Claudio, while also this loss frees Cena to pursue even bigger opportunities moving forward.

AEW WRESTLEDREAM (SEATTLE, WA)

Cena takes time off from All Out to sell the injuries from his Tanahashi & Claudio matches, while also filming his movies. He returns on the post-All Out Dynamite in Chicago, citing his desire to become better as he feels that he should’ve seen Claudio’s attack incoming, blaming himself for his loss but still putting him over.

But given they’re in Chicago and en route to WrestleDream which is the next PPV, he calls out a man who is close to the roots of Antonio Inoki, Katsuyori Shibata. Cena challenges him to a match on the same night and defeats him in another hard-fought victory. While Cena puts over Shibata after the match, he’s attacked post-match by a returning Kazuchika Okada who had also lost his Continental Championship to Kenny Omega at the All In PPV in Texas.

In the buildup to this match, Okada claims that he should’ve garnered bigger attention from the crowds and not Cena, blaming him for overshadowing his historic Continental title loss by sharing the stage with Tanahashi. While Cena counters that he was just working hard and doing his job, he declares that sharing the moment with Tanahashi was one of the greatest achievements of his career, while chastising Okada for becoming a shadow of his former self since joining AEW, resorting to meme wrestling.

Cena adds that on a show like “WrestleDream,” he was looking for a dream match of his own and when the opportunity presented itself, he ‘Never Gives Up.’ Cena then challenges Okada to a match at the event. During the match, we see some Rainmaker classics as Okada brings back the brilliance of his historic IWGP World Champion reign. A highlight comes when Cena reverses a Rainmaker attempt to hit the AA, only for a dramatic 2.99 count. 

Cena then vows to pull off a move he never thought he would, attempting a Tiger Driver, but Okada escapes the underhook and lands three consecutive Rainmakers to secure the win and gain significant momentum. As the match ends, Cena retreats to the corner by the lower turnbuckle, visibly reflecting on the loss, before heading to the back amidst the crowd’s applause.

AEW FULL GEAR (PITTSBURGH, PA)

WHOSE HOUSE?! Swerve Strickland makes his entrance, boldly declaring himself Mr. Full Gear in a pointed jab at his longtime rival, Hangman Page. Swerve wastes no time making his intentions clear—he wants to face Cena at the PPV. Cena, determined to prove himself after a string of losses, accepts the challenge with a newfound edge.

On the go-home episode of Dynamite, they engage in a fiery promo battle. Cena questions whether the Swerve of old—the ruthless, unrelenting “Mogul” who bled buckets in his war with Hangman—still exists. He accuses Swerve of losing his edge, becoming a pushover for stars like Ricochet, Bobby Lashley, MJF, and even the newly debuted Kevin Steen (in this timeline). Swerve, visibly provoked, responds by laying out Cena with a “Killshot,” making it clear that the ruthless side of him is alive and well.

At Full Gear, the two deliver an unforgettable match. Cena, desperate to prove he still belongs, uses underhanded tactics but ultimately falls to Swerve, who delivers a brutal and bloody beatdown to seal the victory. After the bell, a battered Cena acknowledges Swerve and is helped to the back, visibly shaken. The loss plants seeds of doubt about whether Cena can still win the big matches, casting a shadow over his Big Match John legacy.

In the post-show media scrum, a bloodied but resolute Cena announces his entry into the upcoming Continental Classic, boldly declaring his intent to become the next Continental Champion and reigniting his quest for redemption, but more specifically…..

AEW WORLD’S END (TORONTO, CANADA)

This is the kind of box office wrestling fans have been waiting for forever! Kenny Omega, now the Continental Champion after defeating Okada at All In, has reclaimed his spot as the “Best Bout Machine,” delivering incredible matches and proving he’s the best wrestler alive without question.

Cena declares that by winning the Continental Classic, he’ll prove to the world that no one has had a better 2025 than him. To seal his claim, he wants to end the year—and the Continental Classic—by defeating Omega himself. The blocks for the C2 are set as follows:

GOLD LEAGUE	BLUE LEAGUE
John Cena	Kenny Omega
MJF	Daniel Garcia
Will Ospreay	PAC
Kyle Fletcher	Katsuyori Shibata
Roderick Strong	Lee Moriarty
Brody King	Mark Briscoe

Cena has an amazing run in the Continental Classic, winning his block despite a loss to MJF and a time-limit draw against Will Ospreay. From the Blue League, Kenny Omega emerges as the block winner, with Daniel Garcia finishing as the runner-up.

At World’s End, Cena defeats Garcia in the semifinals (with Garcia’s redemption coming in 2026 when he wins the next C2), while Kenny overcomes MJF in a brutal, bloody match. This sets up a dream final between Cena and Kenny, which headlines the event, even above the World Title match where Christian Cage defeats Jay White.

In the final, Cena and Kenny deliver THE best match of the year—an instant classic that solidifies their legacies. Kenny wins after an incredible bout, with standout moments like Cena countering a V-Trigger into an AA and a dramatic near-fall where Cena almost kicks out of the “One Winged Angel,” but his legs barely move. After the match, Cena congratulates Kenny on his epic victory and hints at retirement, expressing doubts about whether he still has what it takes to compete at this level.

AEW DYNAMITE: FYTER FEST (FEBRUARY 2026)

Post World’s End, Cena takes a few weeks off to sell his injuries after the match with Kenny, as a physical & mental break. Cena returns to Dynamite at Daily’s Place during one of their Homecoming episodes, trying to question if he still has it in him to continue. After all these years of ‘Never Giving Up,’ it may be time he does hang up his boots, until he hears a familiar music of his past… Metalingus by Alter Bridge.

The “Rated R Superstar” Cope (this name is still funny to me) comes out to address Cena and in a nod similar to their promo in 2012, he tries to be Cena’s coach & while he could motivate countless others to ‘Never Give Up,’ one of those was himself who didn’t give up on his dream despite a career ending neck injury. And over the months, he’s done the exact thing with the likes of Kenny, Ospreay, Swerve, Okada who only Cena could inspire to find their better selves and have gone on to show Cena the exact same thing for better or worse.

A (less than but) emotional Cena gives in to the fans request to not retire, and fires up by vowing to the fans to become the AEW World Champion in 2026. A happy Cope is also inspired but reminds him that he too is in the running to become champ, especially with who holds the belt now (Christian Cage as mentioned above). Cope claims that at the upcoming AEW FYTER FEST, he will beat his former friend for the belt to become the next World Champion.

Cena & Edge hold an exhibition of their own to still run back the clock like old friends do. But after a strong match between the two, it ends in a no-contest after Christian Cage’s ‘Patriarchy’ stable beats up the two; leading in to a tag match at the shows before the special episode where the babyfaces win after Cena pins Nick Wayne. At Fyter Fest Christian does defend his AEW World title against Cope, HOWEVER….

AEW REVOLUTION 2026 (MIAMI, FL)

Christian loses his title to MJF after MJF gets help from The Elite to cash in a future AEW World title shot at a location of his choice. In a twist of fate, Cena also wins the Casino Gauntlet earlier in the show, earning a future World title shot by pinning Ricochet. This sets up MJF vs Cena 3 at Revolution, bringing things full circle to Cena’s debut match in AEW.

Leading up to the event, MJF vows that Cena will never become World champ, claiming he will hold the title until the day he dies. Cena responds by telling MJF that to beat him, he would have to kill him, and if Cena loses, he will never wrestle for AEW again.

In the match, MJF goes to desperate lengths to beat Cena, even trying to use the Dynamite Diamond ring, but it backfires. Cena finally beats him with multiple Attitude Adjustments to become the AEW World Champion in a moment the fans have been waiting for. After the match, the entire babyface roster comes out to celebrate with him as Cena shares the victory with the crowd.

AEW WORLD CHAMPION JOHN CENA

As I near the end of this fantasy booking journey, I think about who Cena will defend his title against. I had a long list of opponents I wanted to book him with before his title win, but I only used half of them, so I’ll use the rest here.

Cena starts his title defenses against Jon Moxley at Dynasty, then faces Darby, Ricochet, Ospreay, and Adam Cole at one of the special Dynamites, MJF at Double or Nothing, Shingo Takagi at Forbidden Door, Bryan Danielson at All In, Kevin Steen at All Out, and Cope at WrestleDream. While Cena wins these matches and enjoys a dominant title reign, a new and improved challenger emerges from the shadows after their own redemption story.

AEW FULL GEAR 2026 (HOUSTON, TX)

After going through his own redemption story with help from Kenny Omega to find his best self, a more confident ‘Hangman’ Adam Page becomes the next challenger for Cena’s title. As Cena continues his reign as World Champion, he gains confidence despite some setbacks later in 2025. In the build-up to this match, Cena, who has always had a bit of a “heel” side to him, tries to plant doubts in Hangman’s mind, questioning if he will rise to the occasion or fall short like before.

Cena calls Hangman “too noble” to carry the responsibility of being champion and pushes him to step up, just as Cena has helped others bring their best in past matches. But Hangman stays calm and confident, promising to defeat Cena and take the burden off his shoulders. At Full Gear, Cena’s 259-day reign ends after Hangman hits two Buckshot Lariats to win his second World title in a heartfelt moment. It’s a huge victory, as it mirrors his 2021 triumph at his own show (Full Gear was named after one of his BTE skits).

Beating Cena symbolizes Hangman finally overcoming his past struggles and having a more positive outlook on his career, without the past friendship from five years ago. After the match Cena finally “passes the torch” to Hangman and raises his hand at the stage (similar to how The Rock had passed on to him in 2013). Cena then spends the rest of his AEW career with other opponents till he eventually calls time on his career.

Final Thoughts

This is how I would book John Cena in AEW. It would be a journey of building confidence, losing it all, and then finding himself again before ultimately calling it a day. Along the way, Cena faces challenges, struggles with self-doubt, but in the end, he never gives up. His journey embodies who Cena is and mirrors the evolution of his career over the years.

He lifts up fellow wrestlers while rediscovering his own confidence, proving himself to be a true professional and a legend. To some, he may be considered the ‘Greatest of All Time,’ but to me, he is simply ‘The Best.’ A true legend of the sport, I’m excited to see how his actual 2025 run unfolds, and no matter the outcome, I’ll be there, cheering him on.

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