John Cena's retirement tour: Chicago SmackDown could be his final appearance

Friday night’s edition of WWE SmackDown at the Allstate Arena in Chicago could potentially to be a landmark moment in John Cena’s career. The “Never Give Up” icon who is now on his highly anticipated retirement tour, is now scheduled to appear before what is expected to be a capacity crowd of over 16,000 fans. According to insider reports from WrestleVotes, this appearance may even mark Cena’s final outing on SmackDown, which is the very show where much of his storied journey began.

A thing to note is that if this truly is Cena’s last SmackDown, it feels almost poetic that it takes place in Chicago, a city that has long played host to pivotal moments in WWE history. The only question left for us is whether this appearance will end on a high note, or with a storm ready to hit in the form of Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar, who made a shock return at SummerSlam, has been absent from television since then. There is also speculation running wild that Chicago could be the stage where “The Beast Incarnate” resurfaces to just to target Cena, ultimately setting up their rumored clash at Wrestlepalooza on September 20. The timing would make sense as a heated confrontation in front of a raucous Windy City crowd could kickstart the build to one of the most anticipated matches of the year.

Cena enters Chicago riding momentum after his recent victory over Logan Paul at Clash in Paris. While no official announcement has been made about his role at the next WWE Premium Live Event, the expectation is that he’ll collide with Lesnar as part of a blockbuster card for Wrestlepalooza, which streams live on ESPN DTC.

Beyond SmackDown, Cena’s retirement tour still includes several marquee stops. He is scheduled for Monday Night Raw in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 15, followed by major international and domestic appearances at Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia on October 11, and Survivor Series: WarGames in San Diego, California on November 29. These dates underline WWE’s commitment to giving fans around the globe a chance to see Cena one last time before his in-ring career closes.

The most emotional chapter of all could come in December. Rumors suggest Cena’s final match will take place in his hometown of Boston, with Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 reportedly lined up as the farewell stage. If this is true, then it would be a fitting curtain call for a career defined by passion, resilience, and a connection with the WWE Universe unlike any other.