John Cena Drops Cryptic Hint After The Rock Sets Sights on Him for a Final WWE Showdown

John Cena just went out there with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel 2025 and reminded everyone why he still gets the big stage. Now he’s down to a few final dates, with the last one circled: Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, DC. And yes, the guessing game over his final opponent is fully underway.

The setup

Cena is being billed as a 17-time World Champion now, and the clock is ticking on his in-ring career. The Rock, of all people, poured a little gas on the speculation during an appearance on the New Heights podcast, hinting he could be the guy across from Cena in DC while also making it clear this is Cena’s choice to make.

"You know, I have a tiny bit of influence in the booking of it, but really, it’s whoever John wants... It’s not me, Nick Khan, or Triple H. It’s whoever John wants. That guy’s earned it."

Cena’s cryptic post, explained

Right after that, Cena did the most Cena thing possible: he posted a wordless Instagram. The image? Tom Brady and Peyton Manning shaking hands after the AFC Championship Game on January 24, 2016.

Fans took that a couple of ways. On one hand, the timing screams Rock vs. Cena one more time. On the other, the Brady-Manning handshake is the universal sports symbol for 'respect at the end of an era,' which has people reading it as a passing-the-torch tease. That’s why Dominik Mysterio keeps coming up as a possible opponent.

If you’re wondering why the NFL photo matters, here’s the quick refresher: from 2001 to 2015, Brady and Manning met 17 times, and Brady won 11. Their games routinely swung the AFC and shaped the playoffs. That rivalry didn’t just headline seasons; it helped supercharge the league’s popularity in the 2000s and 2010s. It’s a loaded image for a reason.

So who’s actually getting the match?

There are a few names bouncing around, some more realistic than others:

• The Rock: He basically said he has a little sway but that the final call is Cena’s. Given the history and the DC stage, this is the headline choice if John wants to end on a mega-match.
• Dominik Mysterio: If the Instagram was a baton-pass hint, Dom would fit the bill as the next-gen heel who gets the rocket from the biggest name of his era.
• Joe Hendry: WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry told TMZ’s Inside the Ring he’d pick Hendry, arguing that if Cena’s going to give back, do it for someone with a long runway ahead.
• Adam Copeland (Edge): After AEW All Out and his indefinite break from Tony Khan’s promotion, there was chatter he could be Cena’s last dance. As of now, that doesn’t seem to be where this is headed.

Bottom line: the opponent is either a bona fide legend or a handoff to the next generation. December 13 in DC will make it official. Until then, every Instagram from Cena is going to get dissected like a Zapruder film. And yes, the 'never seen 17' winks are not going unnoticed.