With WrestleMania 41 now in the rear-view mirror, here’s why Randy Orton should be the one to take down John Cena – not Cody Rhodes.
With John Cena already having kickstarted his retirement tour, multiple names have flown around the wrestling community as to which superstar will be the one to end the run of one of the greatest of all time. In my opinion there is only one wrestler who has earned the right to be able to say that he ended the legendary career of John Cena, that being the man who holds the three most destructive letters in sports entertainment R K O – Randy Orton.
John Cena and Randy Orton have such a profound history with one another, and even have the argument to being the greatest rivals in the WWE, but Orton deems the perfect candidate to retire Cena on the basis that they basically have been wrestling soulmates even before their debuts. Let’s dive in.
Where it all began
Randy Orton wasn’t always that sadistic snake we all know and love, the same with John Cena not always being the hero at the forefront of hustle, loyalty and respect. Cena and Orton were both a part of ‘that’ historic class of OVW that graduated in 2002. Ohio Valley Wrestling served as WWE’s developmental system prior to FTW and NXT, somewhere for the young stars to train and hone their craft.
While having different success in OVW Cena, then The Prototype and Randy Orton would have their first televised match against each other on the 16th June 2001 on OVW TV with Cena winning via DQ. However, it’s actually their last altercation in OVW that makes this retirement decision the most interesting.
On the 19th January 2002 The Prototype would wrestle Randy Orton and defeat him in Orton’s farewell match in Ohio Valley Wrestling. This loss for Orton would be a means to move him onto Smackdown in the following months. While back then, both hungry rookies wouldn’t have known it yet, but this wouldn’t be the last time they would cross paths in professional wrestling.
John Cena ended the reign of Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
The Feud
The pair would make their own marks on the main roster, Randy Orton playing the cocky legend killer, but then moved towards a more vicious side of the character that would play the perfect Lex Luthor to John Cena’s Superman like persona. Cena being the ultimate hero of the company and role model for the WWE universe paired perfectly with his cold-blooded counterpart.
This is what would make them the perfect rivals for each other. A true good vs evil bout was what the WWE was all about. The main point in which the two would meet as foes is during the mid 2000s in their feud for the WWE Championship. With the history previously mentioned, it had already built tension for the matches that were set to come.
The face-offs that these two had would make the audience believe in the story, purely from how totally opposite they were. It just clicked.
Cena gaining one up on Orton for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble 2007 would be the first of what was brewing between these notable rivals. However, things took a turn two years later when what I believe was there best year of matches. In 2009 Cena and Orton would go to war with each other in a blood feud with brutal gimmick matches. The pair would face off in hell in a cell, I quit and iron man matches in a span of months.
This high-end rivalry had cemented itself as one of the best in the mid to late 2000s, as Cena and Orton had been built up and made to be the THE rivals in that time period. Orton’s now terrifying apex behaviour and Cena’s reign as the face of the WWE filled the audience with emotion in all bouts. It wasn’t just about championships; this was a history led rivalry between two greats with high stakes. This would make Orton vs Cena the perfect final match.
Cena and Orton have been doing this dance for many years.
Storybook Ending
For nearly two decades John Cena and Randy Orton have been the yin and yang in WWE. With John Cena’s farewell tour set to be conclude this December, it would be the perfect ending to Cena’s career. I would actually set this match up being for the WWE Championship in a special PPV dedicated to John Cena called Ruthless Agression.
On one side, the hero that finally broke the record for most world championships in WWE trying to prove he can still go at a high level, fighting with determination and good. On the opposing corner, a ruthless predator who has always taken what he wants to get to the top, using mind games and quick wits. There’s no better ending.
After 30 minutes of back-and-forth action Cena hoists Randy up for an avalanche AA only to be countered with an RKO from the top rope. But Orton’s not done. Backing into that corner, with all the voices in his head counselling him at that moment, he punts Cena’s skull, leaving him lifeless. One, two, and three. Similar to the same reaction to when the streak ended, it’s nothing but shock.
Randy Orton retiring his long-time friend and rival John Cena would cement his already stacked legacy as one of the all-time greats. Not only would this win give Orton his 15th world championship, but he would almost find peace that he was able to defeat who was seen to be the bigger and more flamboyant star out of the two.
In what would be a fantastic match, calling back to the Prototype beating Orton in his OVW farewell match, it ends one of the greatest careers of all time in poetic fashion. While I think there are others who could retire Cena, this is the most believable outcome, given the history and legacies. In kayfabe It’d set up the next big babyface to take down this ultimate heel that everyone would be rooting against. For me this is why Randy Orton retires John Cena, sorry Cody.
