Randy Orton hopes for one final match with the retiring John Cena but told talkSPORT of one bout that’s escaped him in his incredible career.
Orton challenges Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship this weekend as WWE presents the Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event.
The Viper looks to add another world championship reign to his glittering resume that incudes titles aplenty, two Royal Rumble wins and a Money in the Bank match victory and a bundle more besides.
Reflecting on his glorious time in the ring thus far during an exclusive talkSPORT interview before the event, the St Louis native made clear his desire to tangle with old rival Cena once more.
But when conversation shifted to the kinds of matches that might not be as possible as that epic showdown, the 44-year-old considered the matter hard, saying: “That’s a great question. I feel like I am one of the last guys to have worked with all of the greats coming out of the Attitude Era; The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Hunter [Triple H].
“Ric Flair – him being around when I was coming up, just having him there [was amazing]
“Even Goldberg and Scott Steiner, I’ve really, really been fortunate.”
The veteran did plump for one name that might surprise one or two, however, as Ricky Steamboat was raised as an ‘I wish’ encounter, and one that got away.
“There’s all kinds of guys back before the Attitude Era,” he added. “In the 1990s, even in the 1970s, it would’ve been great to have a match with Steamboat when I was younger.
“But I think I’m really content with everybody that I have been fortunate enough to work with.”
Wrestling icon Steamboat, now 71, is one of the industry’s most decorated performers who shone with the likes of the AWA, WCW and WWE in a career than spanned an astonishing six different decades.
He’ll go down in history as one of the greats, as will Cena, who brings the curtain down on a remarkable career of his own in 2025.
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The wrestler turned Hollywood star confirmed earlier this summer that next year will mark his final run as an active, in-ring performer for WWE and that he’s set his sights on final runouts at the likes of Royal Rumble and WrestleMania during the 12 months.
Orton has his sights firmly fixed on a showdown with one of his fiercest career rivals, the pair having battled for multiple world titles over the years, most notably a decade ago.
He said of Cena: “Now that he’s going to retire and you’ve kinda got the timer going and we know this is his last WrestleMania… I know there’s a lot of guys out there going: ‘Oh man, I want to be in the ring with John for his last match,’ and I’m one of them.
“It’s been so long and I feel like there’s something there. Just for the nostalgia of it, it would be fun to have one more with John before he hangs up the boots for good.
“I would prefer it to be a WrestleMania match but, just as long as there’s people there and the TV cameras are on, I’d love to have one more with John.”
SmackDown comes to the Uber Arena in Berlin on Friday August 30th followed by WWE Bash in Berlin on Saturday August 31st. Final tickets at www.ticketmaster.de
