16-man bracket begins as Cena’s farewell journey takes shape
Summary
– John Cena’s final opponent will be decided through the 16-man ‘Last Time Is Now’ tournament
– First-round matchups revealed on WWE RAW include Rusev vs. Damian Priest and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus
– Nick Aldis to announce the next SmackDown bracket entries this Friday
The countdown to John Cena’s final WWE match has officially begun. During the November 3 episode of WWE RAW at the Rio Rancho Events Center in New Mexico, the first matchups for the 16-man “Last Time Is Now” tournament were revealed.
Cena announced the tournament last weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City, confirming his final match will take place on December 13, 2025, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The winner of the bracket will earn the right to face Cena in his last-ever WWE match, closing one of the most legendary careers in wrestling history.
RAW General Manager Adam Pearce held the drawing live on the show, announcing the first two official matchups. Rusev will face Damian Priest in the opening round next week, while Shinsuke Nakamura is set to battle Sheamus in another first-round clash.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis will reveal the next two tournament matches on Friday’s episode of SmackDown. The competition includes talent from multiple brands, as well as a few surprise names rumored to come from outside WWE.
Cena has spent recent weeks training at the WWE Performance Center, helping mentor rising stars while preparing to end his career on his own terms. The “Last Time Is Now” tournament promises to honor that legacy and deliver a high-stakes road to his final match.
