CM Punk Praises John Cena’s Farewell Run, Picks Final Opponent

Though they’ve been at odds many times during their careers, both onscreen and off, CM Punk and John Cena have seemingly squashed all beefs. On the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams on FanDuel TV, Punk offered high praise for the retiring veteran. “Cena is our Wayne Gretzky, I’ve been saying,” said the longtime hockey fan, “somebody who’s held it down for a very very long time.”

As far as the retirement tour, which has faced booking criticisms from some quarters, Punk is onboard. “Watching him exit with such style and grace an dignity has been a real treat,” said the champion whose own exits from promotions have often had anything but. “We don’t get to often say goodbye in real time to our sports heroes, so this is one time we can. With how physical this is…every match is fleeting, it could end like that, so he’s leaving with his health.”

But who should his final opponent be? “Perfect probably would have been me,” he said. “But who’s the perfect opponent that’s actually in the field? Right now I don’t know if it’s perfect, but it’s looking like Gunther, because I’ve been in the ring with him and I know what he can do, and I don’t know who else in that tournament can beat him right now.”

Gunther already has a track record of retiring icons, having come out on top in Bill Goldberg’s final match. CM Punk’s choice feels like a popular prediction, and one that would yield a great match.