John Cena Pens down an Emotional Note Ahead of His Final and 545th Match on Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden

In what will be his third-last WWE appearance in his year long farewell tour, John Cena is all ready for his Raw swansong on November 17th.

John Cena Pens down an Emotional Note Ahead of His Final and 545th Match on Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden

John Cena as the Intercontinental Champion (via WWE)

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The trifecta of John Cena’s farewell tour is officially here, as the WWE icon heads into the third-to-last appearance of his legendary career. The 17-time World Champion is set for the November 17th episode of Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden, a fitting stage for what will be his final appearance on the red brand, a show he carried on his shoulders for more than a decade.

Just as he did during his emotional final Raw in Boston, Cena shared a heartfelt message with fans ahead of the event. The 48-year-old took to social media to reflect on his journey, celebrating the numbers and memories that defined his run on the company’s flagship show.

Over 23 years you’ve allowed me to have 544 matches on (WWE RAW). The most in WWE history. My favorite match.. is my next one! Which will be our LAST ONE! Don’t miss our last chance to grace the (Madison Square Garden) ring as we say farewell to RAW live, Monday night on @netflix at 8pm ET!

John Cena via X

Cena’s final appearance at Madison Square Garden has the potential to stand alongside his legendary 2008 Royal Rumble moment, where he made a shocking early return from a torn pectoral injury. Entering as the surprise No. 30 entrant, Cena stunned the fans, and Triple H in particular, before going on to win the match by last eliminating the WWE CCO. 

For those unaware, Cena recently ended Dominik Mysterio’s 204-day run as Intercontinental Champion to finally complete the Grand Slam that had eluded him for 23 years. With only a handful of dates left on the farewell tour, all signs point toward Cena defending his newly won title on his last-ever episode of Raw.

Interestingly, Dave Meltzer reported that the original plan was for the title change to occur at Survivor Series in San Diego rather than in Cena’s hometown of Boston. Meltzer added that it’s unclear whether Cena vs. Dominik could still take place at Petco Park with a different creative approach. 

He also shot down the speculation of a babyface dream team featuring Cena alongside CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Jey Uso. The veteran journalist had claimed that Cena was expected to join the WarGames match, noting uncertainty around Reigns’ involvement. 

With emotions high, history looming, and time running out, Cena’s final Raw appearance at Madison Square Garden is shaping up to be a night WWE fans won’t soon forget.

Matt Hardy calls John Cena the greatest of all time in WWE history

John Cena is set to go down as one of the greatest performers in WWE history. With 17 World Championships, two Royal Rumble victories, multiple WrestleMania main events, and now the coveted Grand Slam title, his resume stands among the most decorated of all time. 

John Cena as the WWE Champion
John Cena (via WWE)

Add in his larger-than-life personality and his long-running Make-A-Wish campaign, and it’s no surprise he’s become one of the most beloved figures the company has ever produced. As Cena’s retirement tour continues, more legends are voicing their belief that he may truly be the best to ever do it, joining names like Seth Rollins and Kurt Angle. 

One of the latest is Matt Hardy, who has spent over three decades in the business and was on the WWE roster when Cena first debuted in August 2002. Having witnessed Cena’s rise firsthand, Hardy shared his thoughts on Cena’s legacy during an episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast.

I mean, I think when it’s all said and done. It’s hard, it’s hard to dispute that he is not the greatest WWE superstar of all time.

Matt Hardy via The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast

Hardy added that while Cena may not have been the biggest financial draw compared to some megastars of the past, he faced different eras and challenges.

But there is no one that worked harder than John Cena. There was no one that was more loyal to WWE than John Cena. So yes, in my opinion, I think he is probably the most significant WWE wrestler, champion, greatest of all time WWE wrestler there’s ever been.

Matt Hardy via The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast

Hardy also compared Cena to several other legends often mentioned in the GOAT conversation. Shawn Michaels was a phenomenal performer, but his career included stretches of negative publicity. Steve Austin, while a massive star and strong company representative, had moments where he walked out and didn’t always serve as the ideal role model. 

The Rock’s peak run, Hardy argued, simply wasn’t long enough to match Cena’s nearly 20-year tenure at the top. And when it came to Hulk Hogan, Hardy felt his decision to leave WWE for WCW in 1994 hurt his case. In contrast, Cena has remained connected to WWE for life, and Hardy believes that loyalty gives him a major edge in the debate. 

Next for Cena are the final stops of his farewell tour: Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden on November 17, Survivor Series on November 29, and his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. It will be interesting to see how the company plans out Cena’s remaining appearances. 

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