John Cena Names Andre the Giant as His ideal Opponent
CHICAGO, IL – As John Cena approaches his scheduled retirement on December 13th at Saturday night’s Main Event, the 16-time world champion revealed a dream match that remains just beyond reach: a contest against Andre the Giant. Speaking at Fan EXPO Chicago 2025, Cena cited Andre as the ”measuring stick” of professional wrestling, praising the legendary giant’s physical presence and the folklore surrounding his career.
“Just selfishly,Andre,becuase he was like the measuring stick,” Cena stated. “The folklore behind Andre the Giant is mythical, and both physical, as his presence, but also in, like, the folklore of the fraternity, of the brotherhood of wrestling, especially the WWF territory. I’m sure it’s across the world, because Andre was a global phenomenon. But selfishly, yes. That would be the one, Andre the Giant.”
Cena’s career trajectory mirrors that of hulk Hogan in the 1980s, built on overcoming larger opponents and embodying a heroic persona. His rivalries with stars like Big Show recall the dynamic that defined Hogan’s battles with Andre.
The admiration stems from Cena’s childhood, where he vividly remembers Andre’s WrestleMania III clash with Hogan. He described the moment Hogan slammed the 520-pound Giant as a pivotal experience that solidified his passion for wrestling. “That moment was the iconic clash between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III, still regarded as one of the biggest and most influential matches in WWE history. Hogan’s legendary slam of Andre not only defined an era but inspired countless fans, including a young John Cena, to fall in love with wrestling.”
Cena, widely considered the face of WWE’s modern era, views Andre as the defining giant of wrestling’s golden age.
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