As John Cena moves through the final chapter of his WWE career, tributes from across the wrestling world have been rolling in—but one of the most heartfelt came from someone who’s shared the ring, the road, and the pressure with him: Seth Rollins.
Cena, who recently captured the Intercontinental Championship from Dominik Mysterio in Boston, is set for just three more appearances before ending his historic run.
His farewell stretch continues at Madison Square Garden on Monday, November 17, on Raw, continues at Survivor Series, and wraps up on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event. A 16-man tournament will determine who faces him in his last match.
While appearing as a guest co-host on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Rollins was asked about watching a cornerstone of WWE prepare to step away. His response pulled no punches in describing the impact John Cena has had on his life and career.
“John is a great friend,” Rollins said during the segment. He made it clear that Cena’s name sits comfortably alongside the biggest superstars in wrestling history. “He is one of the greatest to ever do it. You can stack him against The Rock, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan. Any of the Mount Rushmores, John Cena is on them.”
Rollins also credited Cena’s influence behind the scenes—not just as a performer, but as a person who helped guide him through the most challenging stages of his career.
“He’s a great human being. He’s been a mentor to me," Rollins continued. "John, hats off to you. A great career, a better friend, better performer. You’re the best, dude. I love you.”
Cena himself reflected on his recent appearance in Boston, sharing a message of gratitude on X and thanking fans for “one last time” in the city where his career began.
Meanwhile, the field for Cena’s final opponent continues to narrow. Rusev and Sheamus advanced with wins over Damian Priest and Shinsuke Nakamura, while Jey Uso vs. The Miz and LA Knight vs. a mystery competitor are set for SmackDown.
As for Rollins, he’s watching this all unfold from the sidelines. A shoulder injury suffered during WWE Crown Jewel forced him to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship on October 20. His recovery timeline places his return around WrestleMania 42 this April in Las Vegas.
Once he’s cleared, Rollins has several paths waiting—Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Paul Heyman’s new faction, and longtime rival CM Punk, who claimed the vacant title on November 1.