John Cena’s retirement tour has already featured the return of a former superstar in the form of R-Truth. However, the WWE veteran, Rob Van Dam, revealed that he was also set to face Cena in one of his retirement tour matches.
In an interview with TMZ Sports, ‘RVD’ disclosed how everything related to his match with Cena was going as per the plan. However, an eleventh-hour debacle resulted in the cancellation of the encounter. Van Dam revealed that he “broke his heels” during the negotiations, which made him unfit for the showdown.
“I wanted to be one of the return matches for John Cena and his retirement tour. I was talking to them [the WWE]. There was a lot of interest. Um, without giving away too many details, you know, we were probably going to do it. And then I broke my heels.”
The matchup between Cena and Van Dam could have garnered a lot of eyeballs, given the fact that ‘RVD’ boasts a victory over John Cena in their 19-year-old match. However, has Cena ever defeated Van Dam inside the ring? Let’s take a look.
How Many Times Has John Cena Taken On Rob Van Dam?
Cena and Van Dam boast decorated careers in the WWE with multiple title reigns. However, considering the star power and the time both have spent in the promotion, it can be safely said that the number of matches they had is far less than expected.
Cena and Van Dam have locked horns with each other on two different occasions, both in 2006. While ‘RVD’ won the first encounter, their second match ended without a decision due to Edge’s interference. However, fans will remember the first encounter between Cena and Van Dam for a long time due to several factors.
The two faced each other at ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006, with Cena’s WWE Championship on the line. The wild crowd at the Hammerstein Ballroom Arena in New York backed Van Dam because of his connection with ECW, while Cena walked out to a chorus of “boo”s.
The ECW crowd expressed their hatred for Cena in every way possible; by returning his t-shirt that he throws to the fans, throwing toilet paper rolls at him, and discouraging him with abuse the entire time.
Ultimately, Edge interfered in the match and speared Cena with a helmet on, which Van Dam took advantage of and won via pinfall.
Check out the highlights of the match below:
Cena took on Van Dam shortly after losing his title at ECW One Night Stand. The two locked horns for the second time at the June 26 episode of Raw, this time with Van Dam as the champion. After a hard-fought encounter, Edge intervened in the match once again to attack both Cena and Van Dam.
However, due to the difference in Raw and ECW’s ruleset, this match ended without a result after Edge’s interference, with Van Dam retaining the title.
Check out a few snippets from the match below:
Notably, Cena and Van Dam have faced each other once more, but it was a triple-threat match, which also involved Edge. Shockingly, ‘The Rated R Superstar’ emerged as the victor of this match to win the WWE Championship, dethroning Van Dam.
Check out the significant moments from the match below:
So, according to the current statistics, Cena has yet to beat Van Dam in a WWE match, but this record could’ve changed if the plans for the cancelled Cena vs Van Dam encounter came to life.
However, after learning about the WWE’s failed negotiations for another Cena vs. Van Dam match, several fans are wondering if they will see other WWE veterans returning to face Cena.
Can any other WWE veteran return to face John Cena?
Fans have already witnessed R Truth making his comeback for Cena’s retirement tour. Additionally, Van Dam’s words about the WWE’s background plans for his match with Cena might make fans think that Triple H and Co. might be in similar negotiations with other WWE veterans.
Well, nothing can be documented regarding this issue, as most of these negotiations are kept confidential until Triple H and Co. choose to provide fans with bits and pieces to substantiate such speculations.
Currently, there is no information about whether Cena will face another WWE veteran amid his retirement tour. However, a match with Chris Jericho seems a pretty viable option, considering that ‘Y2J’ is reportedly about to make his WWE comeback after his tenure with the AEW.
Can you think of any other veterans who could return to the WWE to face Cena amid his retirement tour? Let us know in the comments below.
