Sheamus, Rusev, Damian Priest & Shinsuke Nakamura Weigh In On Potentially Being John Cena’s Last Match

Sheamus, Rusev, Damian Priest & Shinsuke Nakamura compete on Raw tonight for the chance to be John Cena’s last opponent, and they all discussed what it would mean to get that bout. The four are the first competitors in the Last Time Is Now tournament. Rusev will face Priest on tonight’s show, while Sheamus battles Nakamura. WWE posted to Twitter on Monday with videos of all four men. They each spoke about what it would mean to battle Cena in his final bout.

You can see the responses of all four men below. Also announced are The Miz vs. Jey Uso and LA Knight vs. an unnamed opponent. Those matches are set for Smackdown.

Cena faces the winner of the tournament at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th in Washington, DC. The show airs live on Peacock from the Capital One Arena.

Sheamus:

“I think it’d be special. Obviously I made my name off John back in 2009. And I think I could end Cena’s career like he launched mine: with the banger of all bangers.”

Rusev:

“That man gave the biggest loss in my career. Not just my professional wrestling career, but my life career in general. My life was ruined because that man beat me at WrestleMania when I had that tank, my wife and the whole world on top of me. And then I lost.

“So what would it mean? It would anything. I would mean that I would get my life back, my pride back, and everything that he took from me! I will get it back! So Cena, I am coming for you!”

Damian Priest:

“For me personally, it would mean the world. It’s a career-defining moment, you know? You remember is first, right? When he came out with the Kurt Angle thing? How could you not remember his last? So there’s a reason why there’s a tournament for that privilege.

“There’s a reason why the company itself calls him the greatest of all-time while he’s still doing it. That’s reserved for when you retire. So the fact that the company believes in him so much can tell you how much this should mean to all of us. Because this is our WrestleMania, that’s our moment. So for anybody that gets that honor, it’s gonna be a huge deal.”

Shinsuke Nakamura:

“It will be [a] super honor. So some of our generation decided to step away from the ring. No one can escape from the flow of time. But if his path and mine should cross once again, I believe it will be a gift. Gift, yeah, destiny.”

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

"My life was ruined because that man beat me at WrestleMania!"

For Rusev, getting a chance to be @JohnCena's final opponent would be a chance at redemption.

📺 8e/5p on @netflix pic.twitter.com/I4M9B7F3T7

— WWE (@WWE) November 10, 2025

"I believe it will be a gift."

Honored to take part, @ShinsukeN knows what's at stake in The Last Time Is Now Tournament.

📺 8e/5p on @netflix pic.twitter.com/6Gc68Wd0Uh

— WWE (@WWE) November 10, 2025