When John Cena announced his retirement tour, fans immediately started dreaming about big matches. One name kept coming up again and again — AJ Styles. Many believed that one last clash between the two legends had to happen before Cena officially stepped away.
But for months, that match did not take place. With only a few appearances left on Cena’s schedule, it seemed like fans would miss out. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, WWE announced Cena vs AJ Styles for Crown Jewel. The match delivered in a big way. However, Cena has now revealed that this bout was never part of the original plan.
John Cena Reveals AJ Styles Was Not the Original Plan
During an interview with No-Contest Wrestling, Cena explained how the match with AJ Styles came together. According to him, WWE had to “pivot” after listening to fan reactions and other backstage developments.
Cena said the company pays attention to “data points” — meaning fan responses, ticket sales, online reactions, and overall buzz. Initially, AJ Styles was not meant to be his opponent.
In fact, Cena revealed that he was originally scheduled to face Drew McIntyre in Australia. But plans changed quickly.
He explained that WWE wanted to create a feel-good moment after some fans were unhappy with previous developments. That is when the company made the decision to book Cena vs Styles instead.
The result? A huge reaction and a match that reminded everyone why their rivalry is so special.
This shows how flexible WWE creative can be. Even during a carefully planned retirement tour, changes can happen at the last minute.
How Brock Lesnar Stopped Cena from Winning Title No. 17 in 2021
Cena also shared another surprising story from 2021. At that time, he returned at Money In The Bank to confront Roman Reigns. This led to a huge SummerSlam main event with the Universal Championship on the line.
Cena was chasing history — his 17th world title. Winning it would have broken Ric Flair’s long-standing record.
According to Cena, the original plan was for him to win that championship in Las Vegas.
But then, everything changed.
Brock Lesnar agreed to return to WWE — and that decision came very late. Cena revealed that Lesnar’s deal was secured around 5 pm on the day of SummerSlam. Because of that, WWE changed the finish of the match just hours before it happened.
Instead of Cena winning, Roman Reigns defeated him clean. Lesnar then returned after the match, setting up a new storyline with Reigns.
Cena said he handled the change professionally. He explained that last-minute switches happen often in wrestling. He spoke with Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman about adjusting the match, and they made it work.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Event | Original Plan | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| SummerSlam 2021 | Cena wins 17th World Title | Roman Reigns wins clean |
| Reason for Change | Brock Lesnar return confirmed | Finish switched hours before show |
| Cena’s Reaction | Professional acceptance | Adjusted match quickly |
Even though he missed that historic moment in 2021, Cena eventually captured his 17th world championship at WrestleMania 41 by defeating Cody Rhodes.
Why These Pivots Show Cena’s Professionalism
These behind-the-scenes stories reveal an important side of John Cena. Even as one of the biggest stars in WWE history, he understands that business decisions come first.
Whether it was switching from Drew McIntyre to AJ Styles or losing a record-breaking match because Brock Lesnar returned, Cena stayed calm and professional.
That mindset is one reason why he has remained respected for so many years.
Cena vs AJ Styles: A Match Fans Always Wanted
Even though the Crown Jewel match was not planned at first, it turned out to be a perfect addition to Cena’s retirement tour.
Cena and AJ Styles share incredible chemistry. Their past battles, especially in 2016 and 2017, are still remembered as classics. Bringing them together one last time gave fans closure.
Sometimes, the best moments in wrestling come from unexpected changes.
