John Cena to win WWE title from RAW star at SummerSlam, WWE legend predicts

John Cena's quest to win a 17th world championship looks likely to be a key WWE storyline in 2025. Wrestling legend Matt Hardy recently gave his thoughts on how the wrestler-turned-actor's record-breaking title win could occur.

In 2017, Cena defeated AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble to become a 16-time world champion, matching Ric Flair's long-standing record. The Hollywood star will return to WWE for a 2025 farewell tour before retiring, prompting talk he could finally win his 17th world title.

On The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy told host Jon Alba he expects Cena to become the outright record holder. He also predicted that RAW star Drew McIntyre could win the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes before losing to Cena:

"I think at some point Drew McIntyre's gonna pick up the title," Hardy said. "Cody's had it for a year now, I think Cody will drop that title shortly after WrestleMania. I'm gonna go with that, I'm gonna go with the WWE Championship [as the title Cena wins]." [50:54 – 51:22]

Hardy also predicted that Cena's triumph could occur at WWE's first two-night SummerSlam event on August 2-3:

"I could see something where Drew McIntyre ends up with that title and around a SummerSlam you get a John Cena-Drew McIntyre [match], and then John Cena has it for a month, probably drops it back to the same guy." [51:46 – 52:15]

On January 6, Cena will appear on the first episode of RAW on Netflix. Several matches are also scheduled for the show, including CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins.

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Matt Hardy explains why John Cena deserves WWE's title record

In 2005, John Cena won the first of his 16 world titles when he defeated John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) at WrestleMania 21 for the WWE Championship. The 47-year-old went on to become the face of the company. He also granted a record number of Make-A-Wish wishes.

Given how he conducts himself away from the ring, Matt Hardy thinks Cena is the perfect person to hold the all-time world championship record:

"The epitome of the company employee that you want. Top guy, did all the Make-A-Wish stuff. Such a great representation of the company on all levels. I think they're just looking back at that, they go, 'Hey, if we're gonna give somebody this designation, had the most reigns as the world champion in all of history, we want a guy who's WWE through and through and through and through.'" [50:19 – 50:42]

In the same episode, Hardy addressed whether he could return to WWE in 2025 alongside his brother Jeff.

Do you think John Cena could beat Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Please credit The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.