John Cena has faced Randy Orton 10 times in a WWE premium live event or pay-per-view. After what we saw on the Monday Night Raw episode after WrestleMania 41, it's pretty clear we're going to see their historic rivalry at least one more time on one of WWE's big shows.
WWE Backlash is May 10 in St. Louis, which is Orton's hometown. I figured something major was brewing with Orton when he was featured on the PLE's poster surrounded by his signature vipers. I didn't know he would be the man to test Cena next after the G.O.A.T's history making win over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
On Raw, Orton snuck up behind Cena following another masterful promo from the new champion and hit him with an RKO. That sent a message, but Orton also took to social media to send Cena another one accompanied by a picture of the moment as the Viper set things up.
Here is a look at the complete segment.
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This isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s a setup for a massive collision that’s likely headed for Backlash. Cena just became a 17-time world champion after knocking off Rhodes, and if there’s any familiar face fit to battle him during his farewell tour, it’s Orton.
Cena defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 to become a champion for the 17th time. He came out on Raw and berated the fans and said there was no one else left to challenge him. That’s when Orton came and attacked.
This moment doesn’t just affect Cena and Orton—it hits home with WWE fans who’ve followed both of these legends since the mid-2000s.
Orton has benefitted greatly from Triple H's handling of veteran talent. He's provided them time off when needed and it has seemingly kept them happy and able to perform and look on top of their game.
Orton showed up for his impromptu match with Joe Hendry at WrestleMania 41 looking as if he was carved out of the side of a mountain. He looks to be in the best shape of this last stage of his career, and that’ll only help him go over in this potentially epic rekindling of a feud with Cena.
If you need a history lesson on the Cena-Orton rivalry, this video does a solid job of telling the story.
If you're wondering about Rhodes, he wasn't on Raw on Monday. However, he was featured consistently with other WWE Superstars for Clash of Clans commercials. The mobile game was a major sponsor for WrestleMania 41.
It wouldn't shock me to see Rhodes return to help Orton dethrone Cena at some point this year.
If you’re not following WWE Superstars on social media, you're likely missing out. This generation of stars understands that it is crucial for them to keep the story moving online after and during programming.
Cena and Orton are on a collision course for Backlash.
While nothing’s official yet, Orton’s RKO, his X post, and the Raw setup leave little doubt. With Rhodes out of the picture for now, this Cena-Orton chapter might be the spring storyline WWE leans on—and the fans are already locked in.
