Scrapped Plans For WWE Legend’s Return To Face John Cena Revealed

A former WWE star has revealed that talks took place about their surprise return to face John Cena one final time.

John Cena returned to WWE in 2025 for his final year as a professional wrestler. Cena shocked the world when he turned heel at Elimination Chamber before he won the 17th WWE Championship of his career from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.

Cena has mixed it up one more time with old rivals such as Randy Orton and CM Punk, and has one more to come in his future as he takes on Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.

But it seems another name from Cena’s past was keen to get back in the ring with him.

Rob Van Dam Wanted One More John Cena Match In WWE

Speaking on Inside the Ring, Rob Van Dam revealed he was talking to WWE about a potential match with John Cena before he suffered a serious injury:

Let me tell you this—yeah, I wanted to be one of the return matches for John Cena on his retirement tour. I was talking to them, and there was a lot of interest. Without giving away too many details, we were probably going to do it. And then I broke my heels. Everything happens for a reason though, so let’s look at it that way.

John Cena and Rob Van Dam famously clashed for the WWE Championship at the second One Night Stand event in 2006. RVD captured the title from Cena inside the intensely hostile Hammerstein Ballroom as the ECW-leaning crowd went wild.

Less than a month later, Edge captured the title from RVD as he was arrested for speeding and cannabis possession, leading to the end of his run as a top-tier talent in the company.