As the John Cena farewell tour is well into its final lap, it’s only appropriate that his final WWE RAW appearance will be at the iconic Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City on Monday, November 17. Yes, the TG Garden in Boston, MA, was his final appearance at home, but some will argue that his MSG appearance is Cena saying goodbye to his second home and to what has always been the biggest market for the WWE: New York.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble
Cena has had countless memories at the historic MSG (WrestleMania XX against Big Show, the Steel Cage Match against Seth Rollins, countless house shows, etc.), which will be forever ingrained in the minds of the fans, but one match/moment was no bigger than the 2008 Royal Rumble, where he made a surprise entrance at number 30.
Long before the days of social media, wrestling had big, shocking moments as spoilers were few and far between. In October 2007, Cena suffered a torn pectoral muscle, which should have sidelined him for at least six months, but in typical Cena fashion, he worked an intense rehab program to make it back in three months. This is what made January 27, 2008, so special: no one expected him to be back so soon, and when he did, that moment still sends chills up the spines of fans who have been with Cena throughout his career.
On that January 2008 night, the Royal Rumble clock counted down from ten seconds, and so did the MSG crowd right along with it. With rumors of other wrestlers potentially being number 30, there was a calm before the storm feeling throughout the crowd as they patiently waited to see who it would be. All of a sudden, Cena’s music hit, and the building popped, but they still weren’t sure what was happening until Cena came out of the tunnel. The place went berserk, and while you could barely hear Jim Ross because of how loud it was in there, he perfectly described the atmosphere when he said, “The roof has exploded off of Madison Square Garden.” It was a moment that won’t be forgotten in the company’s history, and those who experienced it live whether at MSG or on TV.
Now Cena returns to that same building one last time, and with it being a few days before everyone tunes into RAW on Netflix, the question will be how the WWE sends Cena off on his final RAW, and who will it be against?
Which Opponent Is “Best For Business” on November 17 Against John Cena
When you think about Cena’s final appearance at MSG on Netflix, the first thought has to be that the opponent is a big name in the industry.
One of the names that comes up instantly is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Although the Cena heel run wasn’t as successful as they hoped with The Rock being absent for it all, this could be a way to “right the wrong” with the story and do Cena vs. The Rock one last time. The whole night is set up for a big appearance by The Rock, should he choose to do so. It doesn’t have to be a long match, and they don’t have to try to impress by doing things they were only able to do 15 years ago. The mere sight of the two in the ring, and all the nostalgia that comes with it, will be enough to get it massively over at MSG and on social media.
Another realistic option is Chris Jericho. After all of these years, Jericho still has this connection with the fans, and if his vintage Y2J music were to hit at MSG, that place may very well lose it. Again, the match doesn’t have to be super technical. Jericho and Cena in the middle of the ring would likely break the internet.
Whoever Cena faces on Monday Night, the whole show will feel like his final one because of the legendary nights he’s had in that building. Although his final two appearances are in San Diego (Survivor Series) and in Washington, D.C. (Saturday Night’s Main Event), for those who have been following Cena from the start, Monday Night RAW on Netflix will feel like his final match. Let’s hope that the WWE makes this night special, as Cena deserves a proper send off at the Garden.
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