Booker T Thinks John Cena’s Last Time Is Now Tournament Is ‘Genius’

On the latest episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T talked about the recently announced tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent and weighed in on the possibility of Oba Femi being the one to face him.

When co-host Brad Gilmore suggested that Oba Femi would be the perfect final opponent for Cena, Booker T gave his views, despite Femi’s recent return to NXT to confront Ricky Saints. You can check out some highlights below:

On Oba Femi Potentially Filling That Role:

“I don’t know, Oba Femi seemed like he’s back for one more run at the NXT Championship. And I’m wondering — I mean, if he does go against Ricky Saints, I don’t think that they brought him back — I don’t like booking the show. I don’t think they brought him back to lose or anything like that.

“But if he is the next in line for that, for that championship with Ricky Saints. As far as that being the next guy in line, number one contender? I don’t know. I don’t see the John Cena thing working out, you know what I mean? The timing is not right.

On Passing the Torch:

“If it is someone like Oba Femi, I’m definitely going to be excited. Because there again, a match like that could boom! You know, the passing of the torch. Then again, I don’t want to book the show.”

On the Last Time Is Now Tournament:

“This might be something that’s going to be normal for guys when they get ready to leave. That’s the way I see it. It’s a great idea, the way I see it. Having these young guys vie for that position, and then one of those young guys do get that position and then rises up at the same time. It’s always been John Cena doing the right thing. But it’s always been this business, as far as guys passing the torch on the way out. Guys, are they going to do the right thing? I think what John Cena has done on his way out, man. It’s just been remarkable. It really has been.”

On Wishing He Got the Same Treatment:

“I wish I could have gone out like this. I’m serious, I’m not lying. I wasn’t even thinking about a retirement tour or anything like that, I was just wondering, ‘Let me wrap this thing up! But no man, I think it’s genius what John Cena is doing and what the company is doing.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit the Hall of Fame with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.