WWE Need To Show RUTHLESS AGGRESSION To Make Its Next John Cena

John Cena didn’t tiptoe onto WWE’s main roster — he kicked the damn door down. In 2002, he stepped up to Kurt Angle, dropped the now-legendary “ruthless aggression” line, and punched one of WWE’s top stars right in the mouth. It was loud, bold, and exactly the kind of debut that sticks to you for life. WWE made sure you knew this kid was somebody. Those early weeks were designed to scream, “He’s the future — watch him.”

Sure, the character floundered for a bit until the Doctor of Thuganomics took over, but those initial moments set the tone. Cena wasn’t hiding in developmental anymore. He wasn’t the prototype. He was John Cena — real name, real look, real impact.

Fast-forward to 2025, and we’re now staring down his retirement. Even though he’s been part-time for years, the weight of his exit is massive. This is the guy who carried the company across the 2000s — their franchise ace, their ticket-seller, their merch machine, their ironman of Make-A-Wish. Whether crowds cheered him or belted out “John Cena sucks!” every Monday, he still filled buildings and held the company on his back.

Now he’s set to hang it up in December, and WWE is designing his last chapter — matches, promos, angles — to honor that legacy. There were definitely some stumbles early in the retirement arc (the heel run with The Rock and Travis Scott peaked at the Elimination Chamber and then evaporated), but the babyface pivot seems to have steadied the ship. And winning his first Intercontinental Championship this late in the game? Honestly, that’s just poetic.

But the biggest question now is simple:

Who gets the honor — and the responsibility — of being John Cena’s final opponent?

WWE’s “Last Time Is Now” tournament is built to answer that. And early rumblings pointed to one name:

Gunther.

And look, Gunther is incredible. One of the best wrestlers in North America, one of the best IC champs ever, and a guy you can always trust to deliver an A-tier match. If WWE goes with him, no one is complaining. He doesn’t need the win — he’s established enough — but the match would be a banger.

But what if there’s a better option?

Something fresher?

Something genuinely big picture?

What if WWE reaches for the spirit of Cena’s own debut and hands that torch to someone who could genuinely carry the company for the next decade?

The Case for Je'Von Evans

This might sound wild, but hear me out:

Je'Von Evans should win the entire tournament and retire John Cena.

Yes, really.

Evans is only twenty-one, but you don’t need a scouting report to see the raw talent. He’s got the athleticism, the charisma, the presence — everything you’d want in someone who could be a true next-generation star. Some fans argue he should stay in NXT longer, maybe even get a title run there. And that wouldn’t be wrong.

But here’s the flip side:

He’s ready now.

Give him the biggest underdog run of the year. Have him beat established names. Let him clash with Gunther and shock the world by winning. You want unpredictable? You want excitement? Nothing shakes the room like the rookie beating the general.

That loss would send Gunther into a whole new character arc — angry, humiliated, sharper and more dangerous than ever. And Evans? Suddenly he’s not just “the kid with potential.” He’s the guy who broke the unbreakable.

That sets up the finals against Cena — a poetic mirror of Cena’s own debut moment where he stepped to a legend and swung for the fences.

Now imagine it:

Cena, in Washington D.C., in his final match, defending the Intercontinental title he waited a lifetime to win, standing across from a 21-year-old phenom who represents everything Cena once was — hungry, fearless, and ready to seize a spot that no one will ever hand him.

Evans wins.

Crowd explodes.

Cena raises his hand.

A legacy ends, and another one begins instantly.

Tell me that doesn’t give you goosebumps.

WWE Needs a Youth Movement — Badly

Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about Evans. It’s about WWE’s aging landscape. The average top guy today is older than the youngest main-eventers from the year 2000 — a time widely considered one of WWE’s creative peaks.

Back then?

Rock was 28.

Big Show was 28.

Not a single main-eventer from that year was older than the youngest main-eventer in 2025.

That’s how dramatic the shift is.

If WWE wants fresh stories, long-term stars, and new eras, they need to be bold. They need to make moves that feel alive, not predictable. Triple H is a patient, pattern-driven booker — often to his credit — but sometimes you need chaos. You need surprise.

You need a moment that feels like a jolt to the entire fanbase.

Je'Von Evans is that jolt.

Cena’s Final Act Should Be About Legacy — Not Comfort

Cena has openly embraced elevating younger talent. He loves working in NXT. He’s the first guy to push for showcasing the next generation. If anyone would insist on helping a young star break through on his way out the door, it’s John Cena.

That's why Evans makes sense.

That's why it feels right.

That's why it's Cena-core.

This is how you build tomorrow.

This is how you create moments that last decades.

Final Thoughts

If WWE picks Gunther, cool — it’ll be a great match and a fitting finale. No argument there.

But if they go bold?

If they give the ball to Je'Von Evans — a kid who could be the future?

That’s something special.

That’s a real torch-passing moment.

That’s history-book material.

That’s the kind of surprise that makes wrestling feel electric again.

So yeah — count me in.

Count me all the way in.

What do you think? Should Cena’s final match make a new star, or should WWE stick with the proven heavyweight? Drop your thoughts below — this might be the biggest creative fork in WWE’s road all year.