“This is my childhood right here” – Randy Orton turns the clock back with vicious RKO on John Cena after WrestleMania, fans react

John Cena's iconic rival Randy Orton makes it clear that he is coming after the WWE Championship after WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.

“This is my childhood right here” – Randy Orton turns the clock back with vicious RKO on John Cena after WrestleMania, fans react

John Cena and Randy Orton (via WWE)

John Cena made history at WrestleMania by becoming a 17-time WWE Champion, dethroning Cody Rhodes and living up to his bold claim of “ruining wrestling forever.” This week on Raw, ‘The Cenation Leader’ showed up to celebrate his win over The American Nightmare. But what he didn’t see coming was his longtime rival, Randy Orton, lurking in the shadows—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Just as the Hollywood star wrapped up his promo, ‘The Viper’ struck—out of nowhere, Randy Orton hit Cena with a thunderous RKO. Clearly not a fan of Cena calling himself the “real” World Champion, ‘The Apex Predator’ made a bold statement. He picked up the Undisputed WWE Championship and made it crystal clear: from this point on, he’s coming for Cena.

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The Legend Killer, Randy Orton, also happens to be the mentor of Cody Rhodes—the very man who got screwed over by John Cena and Travis Scott at WrestleMania. So, this development fits perfectly into the larger WWE narrative. On top of that, fans have been eager to see one last showdown between Orton and Cena, especially during ‘The Cenation Leader’s’ farewell tour.

And with Backlash taking place in St. Louis, Missouri—Orton’s hometown—the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Besides, Orton and Cena had a long-standing history that could be enough to bring back fans’ attention after the controversial ending to WrestleMania 41. With that said it is going to be interesting where this story lands from here on.

WWE Universe reacts to Randy Orton’s RKO to John Cena on Monday Night Raw

The WWE Universe is buzzing with excitement over Randy Orton stepping up as John Cena’s first challenger in his Undisputed WWE Championship reign. Fans were thrilled at the thought of this iconic rivalry being reignited in 2025. Many believe that this could be the perfect setup for a massive showdown between the two legends at WWE Backlash next month.

John Cena and Randy Orton
John Cena and Randy Orton (via WWE)

Moreover, fans were even thrilled with the idea of The Viper being a baby face and John Cena being a heel for the first time at the same time in WWE history. From the wide spectrum of views, here are the top reactions of the fans on X:

Alongside this major development, fans are also calling for dream showdowns between Cena and his iconic rivals like CM Punk and Roman Reigns one more time. Many believe this could mark the beginning of a new era that shifts the entire trajectory of the Stamford-based promotion. Overall, the WWE Universe seems to be loving how Cena is being presented as champion.

John Cena claims he is never coming back after his retirement

John Cena officially announced his retirement from WWE last year at Money in the Bank in Toronto. Ever since, there’s been constant buzz about whether he’d make a comeback after December. Now, ‘The Cenation Leader’ has finally addressed the speculation, making it clear that his retirement is permanent, and he’s never coming back.

John Cena
John Cena (Image via X/@BRWrestling)

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, John Cena made it crystal clear—after December, he’s done performing in WWE. While he’ll always remain part of the WWE family, he firmly stated that he’s never lacing up the boots again.

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There is no amount of money. And there is not a check. And this is just a shot across the bow to any casino owner, to any territory owner, to any promotion owner: You can’t write me a check to bring me back.

John Cena via Pat McAfee Show

According to Cena, no amount of money could ever convince him to step back into the ring. He acknowledged that in WWE, retirements are rarely permanent—it’s often a “never say never” kind of situation. But for him, it’s different.

Related: MLB HILARIOUSLY honors John Cena following record-breaking 17th championship win at WrestleMania 41