Retirement run hits a groove: Cena and a closing chapter
WWE Crown Jewel 2025 delivered a rare, emotional milestone as John Cena and AJ Styles staged one of the era’s most resonant callbacks to wrestling history. Cena’s clash with Styles, paired with his earlier defeat to Cody Rhodes, underscored a retirement-era arc that feels less like a farewell and more like a living, breathing homage to two generations of in-ring storytelling. As Cena nears the end of a storied career, the bout reminded fans of the early-2000s crisscross of WWE and TNA memories—the Bray Wyatts, Sting, Samoa Joe, and The Undertaker rivalries that shaped two decades of main-event drama.
The timing was pivotal. Cena, at age 48, still showed flashes of the peak performance that made him a draw for new fans and a comforting throwback for longtime viewers. The Perth crowd’s reaction reinforced the sense that every remaining Cena date carries significance. Yet the strange juxtaposition of a superb match with a recent squash loss to Brock Lesnar earlier in the year makes Cena’s late-career run a study in contrasts—moments of soaring quality set against some inconsistent outings. Crown Jewel reinforced that the best of Cena in this phase is still capable of electrifying the arena and echoing the legacy he helped build.
A win that elevates Seth Rollins
Heading into Crown Jewel, the storyline was simple: could Seth Rollins topple Cody Rhodes on a big stage and prove he belongs on equal footing with WWE’s top champion? The answer came with a measured, crowd-pleasing performance that felt earned. With a little assistance from a symbolic gift—Rhodes’ watch—the match delivered not just a title change, but a clear declaration that Rollins is ready to carry the torch in a new chapter for WWE’s title picture.
This victory elevates Rollins from a perennial challenger to a genuine threat to Rhodes’ current dominance. The finish also sets up fertile future storytelling: Rhodes and Rollins have an intuitive chemistry, and they can rekindle a marquee feud whenever WWE wants. The psychology was clean, the timing precise, and Rollins’ ascent felt earned rather than handed, signaling a stronger, more resilient centerpiece for WWE’s current era.
WWE is all-in on Stephanie Vaquer
Stephanie Vaquer’s ascent to the upper tier of WWE’s women’s division has been nothing short of meteoric. Crown Jewel crowned her as the second Women’s Crown Jewel Champion, continuing a trajectory that began with a notable 2024 breakout. The company’s plan appears to place Vaquer at, or near, WrestleMania-level prominence, with the potential for a main-event spotlight in the near future.
The intriguing dynamic now is what comes next for Vaquer. Could a high-profile feud with Liv Morgan—another former Crown Jewel champion and a potential returnee—be the logical path? Or does Vaquer pivot into a long-term program with Rhea Ripley, leveraging Australia’s hometown energy to fuel a continued rise? Either route suggests Vaquer will remain a central figure on the women’s roster as WWE looks to balance new stars with veteran appeal.
Bronson Reed’s win and the Reigns-Usos saga
Bronson Reed’s dominant clash with Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel carried big potential, signaling Reed as a future pillar for WWE’s heavyweight landscape. The match delivered a clean, decisive moment—Reed pinning Reigns after a dramatic run-in sequence. Yet the tangible momentum was diluted by the ongoing Reigns-Usos storyline, which continues to complicate what should be a clean, forward-facing push for Reed.
The night felt like a missed opportunity to lock in Reed as a true breakout star independent of the faction drama. Still, the victory did its part in signaling Reed’s potential. WWE can capitalize by steering future pay-per-views toward Reed and Breakker as the next generation of top stars without letting the Usos’ interference overshadow the moment. A streamlined, sustained push could accelerate Reed’s arrival without sacrificing the long-running family saga at the center of Reigns’ current reign.
Rhea Ripley’s homecoming anchor and a plan for the women’s division
Rhea Ripley’s Australia homecoming added a vital emotional layer to the event and proved how to structure a card around genuine crowd energy. Ripley’s presence helped Vaccar’s momentum by providing a high-energy bridge between the night’s major matches and keeping fans engaged for the crown jewel’s second half. Her role as a versatile performer—able to anchor a tag match, interact in single’s feuds, or contribute to multi-woman spectacles—continues to prove WWE’s best asset in roster depth.
Looking ahead, Ripley could segue into a program with Vaquer for a Women’s World Championship storyline or pivot toward a high-stakes program that returns us toward WrestleMania. The evolving landscape points to a broader, more dynamic women’s division with possible top-tier showdowns on the horizon, including potential Survivor Series or Mania-stage clashes that would honor Ripley’s status while leveraging Vaquer’s rapid ascent.
In sum, Crown Jewel 2025 offered fans a balanced mix of nostalgia and forward momentum. Cena and Styles delivered a masterclass in a farewell-leaning arc, Rollins demonstrated he’s the right kind of in-ring centerpiece for WWE’s near future, Vaquer cemented herself as a cornerstone, and Reed’s win hinted at a brighter path for a next generation. Add Ripley’s hometown energy to the mix, and WWE presented a roadmap for continued elevation across both the men’s and women’s divisions.
