Speculation is growing that WWE may stage one of the most anticipated matches in its history directly opposite a major All Elite Wrestling event. According to reports from Wrestling Observer Live\u2019s Bryan Alvarez, internal discussions are underway within WWE to shift the date of John Cena\u2019s farewell bout so that it would air head to head with AEW\u2019s Worlds End pay-per-view in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the idea has not been confirmed, Alvarez indicated that the possibility is being taken seriously by WWE executives. The change would represent one of the boldest examples of counter programming between the two companies since AEW\u2019s launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original plan, Alvarez explained, was for Cena\u2019s final match to take place in early December during a special edition of Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event. However, talks have emerged about moving it later in the month, aligning it directly with AEW\u2019s Worlds End, scheduled for Saturday, December 27 at the NOW Arena in Chicago. Cena\u2019s farewell is expected to be held in Boston, his hometown, which would add a deeply emotional layer to the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this scheduling adjustment moves forward, it would not be the first time in 2024 that WWE has positioned one of its premium live events directly against a major AEW show. Earlier reports confirmed that WWE plans to stage a marquee event on Saturday, September 20, headlined by John Cena versus Brock Lesnar, directly opposing AEW\u2019s All Out pay-per-view. Alvarez noted that he had previously heard of another potential head to head clash before the end of the year, which appears to match the current discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strategy behind such a move is clear. Counter programming has long been a tool in wrestling\u2019s competitive playbook, used to siphon viewers away from rival broadcasts and create narrative dominance in the industry. In this case, WWE would be betting that Cena\u2019s retirement match, a once in a lifetime moment for fans, would command significantly more attention than AEW\u2019s year end spectacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cena\u2019s career has spanned over two decades, during which he became one of WWE\u2019s most marketable and recognizable stars. His final match is expected to be a celebration of his legacy, drawing fans not only for the in ring action but also for the historical significance. Hosting such a match on the same night as AEW\u2019s closing event of the year could heavily impact AEW\u2019s viewership numbers, especially among casual wrestling fans who might see Cena\u2019s farewell as the must watch event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AEW, on the other hand, has built Worlds End into a key fixture on its annual calendar, often featuring high stakes matches and championship bouts to close the year with impact. Going head to head with Cena\u2019s retirement would be an unprecedented challenge for the company, testing its ability to hold audience attention against one of wrestling\u2019s most iconic names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, WWE has yet to officially announce the final date for Cena\u2019s farewell. Until confirmation comes, both fanbases will continue to speculate, and industry insiders will watch closely to see whether this maneuver turns into the most direct competitive clash of the modern wrestling era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Speculation is growing that WWE may stage one of the most anticipated matches in its history directly opposite a major All Elite Wrestling event. According to reports from Wrestling Observer Live\u2019s Bryan Alvarez, internal discussions are underway within WWE to shift the date of John Cena\u2019s farewell bout so that it would air head to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1123,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,5,7,29,30],"tags":[230,1868,1070,51,1867,227,1198,1870,74,1358,34,73,1869],"class_list":["post-1122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-exclusives","category-news","category-raw","category-wwe","tag-aew","tag-aew-worlds-end","tag-brock-lesnar","tag-john-cena","tag-john-cena-farewell","tag-john-cena-retirement","tag-saturday-nights-main-event-3","tag-worlds-end","tag-wrestling-news","tag-wrestling-rivalry","tag-wwe","tag-wwe-news","tag-wwe-vs-aew"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n