There's Only One Man Who Can Replace John Cena in WWE & It's Not Cody Rhodes

John Cena bid farewell to the WWE ring after losing to Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event XLII. The 17-time world champion carried the company on his back for over two decades, and finally called time on his tenure as a professional wrestler by completing his retirement tour.

Cena's retirement has left a major hole in WWE's roster, with Cody Rhodes the only universally beloved babyface in the company. But Rhodes might not be the one to replace John Cena as the one to carry the company on his back long-term.

Cody Rhodes is already 40, and might not wrestle for much longer

The majority of WWE's current top stars are either 40 or are fast approaching it. Rhodes turned 40 in June this year, and will likely be a full-timer for a decade more at best.

Most wrestlers reduce their schedules significantly once they reach that age, and even though Rhodes' character best aligns with John Cena's as a fan-favorite, he might not stay around long enough to carry the company through the next decade.

Rhodes' credibility might take a hit after WrestleMania 42

Rumors suggest that Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are planned to complete their trilogy at WrestleMania 42. Right before Survivor Series WarGames, The Tribal Chief teased going after one of the world titles, and many believe he could run it back with The American Nightmare for a third time at the Show of Shows.

If Rhodes can hold on to the title till WrestleMania, he could end up dropping it to Reigns. This could be a major blow to his credibility and could damage him significantly. While Reigns is perhaps the biggest star in WWE right now, a defeat to the OTC would surely set Rhodes back a bit.

John Cena could instead be replaced by a much younger star instead

It seems unlikely that anyone will ever embody 'Hustle, Loyalty and Respect' the same way as John Cena. However, his work ethic and 'Never Give Up' attitude will surely be carried forth by younger stars in the locker room.

As a result, it seems very likely that Bron Breakker could be the next person to carry the company upon his shoulders for the next two decades. The former NXT Champion is 28 and seems best poised to lead the company into the new era.

Alternatively, WWE could also throw a massive curveball by recruiting MJF from AEW, which would firmly position him as the next person to carry the company on his back over the next decade. However, this depends on whether AEW will let one of its biggest stars go to its direct rivals in the near future.

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Edited by Arsh Das