This Saturday, one of the crucial acclaimed wrestlers of all time officially hangs up his boots, as John Cena calls it a profession after one last match at Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC. His opponent at “Saturday Night’s Fundamental Event” is former World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER; meanwhile, the undercard will likely be filled out by three matches featuring stars of the important roster taking up stars from “WWE NXT” in non-title exhibition matches, an idea pitched by Cena himself.
It’s rare to see a contemporary WWE PLE (or perhaps a classic PPV) with no gold on the road in any way, but that doesn’t suggest there aren’t matches that compel the WINC staff! And naturally, there are also matches that do … somewhat the alternative of that. What are our hype levels like heading into John Cena’s last match? Here’s our biggest draw and our biggest dud for the 12/13/25 edition of “WWE Saturday Night’s Fundamental Event!”
Draw: Cody Rhodes vs. Oba Femi
Heading into this past weekend’s “WWE NXT” Deadline, Cody Rhodes said he desired to embrace the spirit of John Cena and provides a possibility to the long run at Saturday Night’s Fundamental Event, establishing a non-title bout with whomever walked out of Deadline because the NXT Champion.
This author had that pegged for a draw the moment it was confirmed for this weekend, on condition that there is no such thing as a world or dimension where the WWE Champion taking up the NXT Champion should’t be considered a draw. But then Oba Femi went into Deadline and beat Ricky Saints for the title, ensuring that it’ll be “The Ruler” versus the “American Nightmare” for the primary time ever, and whoa, what a match.
Femi has a really legitimate claim to the “Next Big Thing” tagline, carrying himself like a star each between the bells and with a microphone in-hand. He hits the sweet spot of being a physically large man with explosive speed, the dimensions adding to his momentum somewhat than slowing him down, and to say he’s entering into the ring with a really giving and sell-hardy Cody Rhodes is to explain the right match. That is without even considering the likelihood that Femi wins the match, laying foundations for an eventual move as much as the important roster – which, at this point, he’s greater than ready for.
Win or lose, this stands to be a highlight for Femi like no other. It’s a possibility to work with the established Quarterback of the corporate at the identical event John Cena will likely be retiring. And there is surely no way it doesn’t wind up a very good match.
Written by Max Everett
Dud: John Cena vs. GUNTHER
If the abundance of “NXT” talent featured on John Cena’s dedicated “Saturday Night’s Fundamental Event” card and his 8-hour appearance at Lodestone 2025 say anything, it’s that Cena’s original intentions for final WWE stint were to uplift the in-ring performers of tomorrow. So why is he facing GUNTHER as his final opponent?
No, seriously, why? I get that GUNTHER is a comparatively newer talent, but he just isn’t the individual that needs the special Cena rub. GUNTHER is a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in company history. He was the face of “NXT UK —” to the purpose where people were mourning the potential of him not transferring over to American “NXT” and the important roster — and he’s one of the crucial dominant performers to grace a WWE ring. He is not the variety of wrestler I imagine Cena had in mind when he was fashioning his retirement tour.
Okay, lets say you are not the largest fan of some up-and-comer beating Cena. As an instance you were one among the people waiting for a historic figure to finish Cena’s historic profession. Randy Orton, perhaps? Perhaps you were waiting for an Adam Copeland return to WWE. A couple of of you would possibly even have taken “The Final Boss,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. GUNTHER is a disappointing consequence here too! GUNTHER and Cena have next to no history together, and since we will guess that GUNTHER goes over on Cena come December 13, it is actually a disjointed ending to a literally legendary profession.
GUNTHER is a really capable performer — among the finest in WWE. Nevertheless, when he’s neither latest enough to profit from a Cena moment, nor sufficiently old to have a visit down memory lane with, him as Cena’s final opponent is a veritable Dud. You may’t provide you with a worse final opponent.
Written by Angeline Phu