Solo Sikoa Demolishes John Cena

Solo Sikoa annihilated John Cena at WWE Crown Jewel 2023, picking up the biggest win of his career and preventing “The Champ” from winning his first singles match since 2018.

The 16-time world champion, making his last scheduled WWE appearance during his current run, was decimated by The Bloodline’s Sikoa with a series of Samoan Spikes, suffering one of the most lopsided losses of his career. With Cena’s loss and his recent comments about retirement being near, the question remains: What is next for Cena?

Arguably the greatest superstar in WWE history, Cena recently admitted that time could be running out on his current WWE run, his longest with the company in half a decade. Cena said after last month’s Fastlane—where he teamed with LA Knight to defeat Sikoa and Jimmy Uso—that he would have to leave WWE if Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA strike comes to an end.

That hasn’t happened yet, however, which means Cena’s lengthy run in WWE could continue for the foreseeable future.

MORE FROM FORBESWWE Crown Jewel 2023 Results: Seth Rollins Beats Drew McIntyre In Instant ClassicBy Blake Oestriecher

If and when Cena sticks around, WWE has no shortage of options for “The Champ,” who continues to boost ticket tales, merchandise sales and TV viewership, like he always seems to do. Just as Cena’s presence has measurably impacted WWE, he has helped elevate The Bloodline and Knight, among others, with his presence on Raw and SmackDown.

Cena’s loss to Sikoa, however, continued his five-year singles match losing streak. It’s felt like a lifetime since Cena—once the most unbeatable superstar in WWE—has won a match of importance. Earlier this year at WrestleMania 39, he even lost to Austin Theory, who is a stale midcarder despite Cena’s best efforts to get him over.

If you look at the names Cena has worked with during what may be his last lengthy WWE run ever, it’s one consisting primarily of rising stars who need a lift, like Knight, Theory and Sikoa. That trend should continue for as long as Cena is around, and the legendary star must remain a foe of WWE’s up-and-coming heels.

A natural fit for Cena’s next rivalry would be SmackDown’s Grayson Waller, who has already interacted with Cena on-screen, oozes charisma and is currently associated with Cena’s former rival in Theory. WWE needs to make the most out of what little time Cena has left as an in-ring performer, and there is no more perfect fit for his next opponent than Waller, a potential world champion.

Other possible future foes for Cena would include virtually any member of The Judgment Day, Bronson Reed, Gunther and Imperium as well as Bobby Lashley and his sidekicks The Street Profits. In other words, WWE has options beyond a recycled feud with someone like Roman Reigns or even Seth Rollins.

Even a match with Cody Rhodes, who has lobbied for a match with Cena and was considered as a potential opponent for Cena at WrestleMania 39, would make a ton of sense as an opponent for Rhodes. Cena vs. Rhodes at, say, The Royal Rumble would be a great way for Cena to pass the torch to a white meat babyface who is similar to Cena himself in so many ways.

As the clock nears midnight on Cena’s current run, WWE undoubtedly has to act quickly when it comes to deciding how to use Cena if he does stick around on a part-time basis. And whether it’s Rhodes, Gunther or someone else, Cena has to continue to do what he does best in his new role: Elevate those around him.

But whether Cena is going to remain in WWE for the short-term or return next year for more matches, he needs to start picking up some wins—or else, his increasingly mediocre in-ring performances will leave even more to be desired.