John Cena and Drew McIntyre have never had a one-on-one match, and with Cena‘s farewell just two weeks away, it looks like the bout just wasn’t meant to be.

In a new interview with ESPN, McIntyre expressed sadness for not snagging one of Cena‘s retirement tour matches, but the Scottish Psychopath praised the 17-time WWE Champion’s vast list of accomplishments.

“He’s meant everything to our industry,” McIntyre said. “When The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin left WWE, [with] the top superstars Triple H, Shawn Michaels at the end of their career, the company and the world needed somebody to step up into that top position. John stepped up in a massive way for multiple generations.”

“It’s insane to see that he’s about to have his last couple of matches. I’m sad I didn’t get one of them, but I’m glad I’m part of the roster. I’m glad I got to travel the world, I’m glad I got to learn from John Cena because he is a legend and he might just be the GOAT.”

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Back in 2024, McIntyre told The Ringer Wrestling Podcast that he was planning to raise hell to get one of Cena‘s last matches.

“Cena is coming back for his year-long return, which is going to be awesome. I don’t know if I’m figured in the plans, but I guarantee I’ll be pushing and I’ll be nudging them left and right to make it happen because the amount of stories I’ve got about Punk and things that happened when I was younger, I’ve got tenfold on him.”

“There’s never been a one-on-one match. If I have to drive management crazy, I’ll drive them crazy, drive John crazy. I’m going to get that match and I’ll tear him apart on the microphone, which not many people can do in the ring, and send him packing in a happy retirement and hopefully Punk along with him.”

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