John Cena's first defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship will see him square off against a familiar foe—Randy Orton. This long-running rivalry will heat up once again at WWE Backlash 2025, where the two future Hall of Famers will battle for the title.
The Build-Up to WWE Backlash 2025
John Cena, after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41, came up with the bold statement; "ruin wrestling" during the Raw After WrestleMania, stating it as his final year in active competition. North America but not before elaborating on what that really meant. Orton also replied back by delivering the RKO to the current champion, and this thing caused a stir between Cena and Orton.
With that, they further escalated into a confrontation on SmackDown. Orton was pissed off by Cena's changed attitude, warned him that he could not allow him "to ruin WWE." Orton challenged Cena right there to a match, but when he got refused, Cena decided it would be better to face each other at Backlash, held in St. Louis, Orton's hometown. Before the segment ended, however, Cena launched a surprise attack, but "The Viper" quickly countered by performing another RKO.
WWE Backlash 2025: Event Details
When is WWE Backlash 2025?
WWE Backlash 2025 is scheduled to take place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, May 10.
Cena vs Orton: The Rivalry
There could certainly not be any better venue and moment to cap that intensity than at Backlash, as the rivalry has been alive for nearly two decades now and more. With the culmination in this clash at Backlash, Cena and Orton will find themselves head and shoulders above the rest as they enter the ranks of WWE's greatest-ever superstars. Over the years, they've shared several encounters, often for the WWE Championship, and their storied rivalry is worthy of mention among the most interesting in the history of the company.
Already a 17-time WWE Champion, Cena has fought Orton in several memorable matches. On the other hand, Orton's conquered more than a handful of times from Cena's record across the years: 14-time champion of the WWE.
History of Encounters
- Singles Matches:
In a one-on-one bout, Cena prevails with 13 victories over Orton's 8.
- Tag Team Matches:
He dominated the numbers game in tag teams with a record of 28-6 in his teams against Orton.
- Multi-Wrestler Matches:
In bouts involving more than one wrestler, both Cena and Orton earned six victories each.
And as such, these two greats are ready to collide once again in Backlash; providing yet another riveting chapter in the legendary saga of these greats.