‘Last Time Is Now’ Tournament Competitors Address Potential Facing John Cena In Final WWE Match

WWE

The first four competitors in the Last Time Is Now Tournament have addressed what it would mean to be John Cena’s final WWE opponent.

On tonight’s WWE Raw in Boston, the ‘Last Time Is Now’ Tournament gets underway to determine who will be Cena’s final opponent at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.

The first two matches will see Sheamus face off with Shinsuke Nakamura, and Rusev face off with Damian Priest.

Today on social media, WWE shared interviews with all four men ahead of the tournament beginning, and what it would mean for them to be Cena’s final opponent.

Sheamus said:

“I think it would be special. Obviously I made my name off John in 2009, and I think I can end Cena’s career like he launched mine, with a banger of all bangers”

Rusev had a much less respectful approach, vowing revenge on Cena for ‘ruining his life’ at WrestleMania 31.

He said:

“That man gave the biggest loss in my career. Not just in my professional wrestling career, but in my life career in general. My life was ruined because that man beat me at WrestleMania when I had that tank, my wife and the whole world on top of me. And then I lost.

“So what would it mean? It would mean everything, It would mean I would get my life back, my pride back, and everything that he took from me, I will get it back. So Cena, I am coming for you.”

Damian Priest has yet to face Cena in a one on one match, noting that Cena’s status as the ‘greatest of all time’ makes the tournament ‘their WrestleMania’.

He said:

“For me personally it would mean the world. It’s a career defining moment. You remember his first, when he came out with the Kurt Angle thing, how could you not remember his last? There’s a reason why there’s a tournament for that privilege.

“There’s a reason why the company itself calls him the Greatest of All Time while he’s still doing it. That’s reserved for when you retire, so the fact that the company believes in him so much can tell you how much this should mean to all of us. This is our WrestleMania, that’s the moment. For anybody who gets that honor, it’s going to be a huge deal.”

Finally, Shinsuke Nakamura made reference to New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Hiroshi Tanahashi also retiring, noting that he and Cena meeting again would be ‘a gift’.

He said:

“It would be a super honor. Some of our generation decided to step away from the ring, no-one can escape from the flow of time. But if his path and mine should cross once again, I believe it would be a gift. Destiny.”

The Last Time Is Now.

We asked tonight's competitors what being @JohnCena's final opponent would mean to them…@WWESheamus is ready to revisit some history.

(A THREAD) pic.twitter.com/Gwh3OFsBgA

— WWE (@WWE) November 10, 2025