Report: WWE Teasing Outside Talent for “The Last Time Is Now” Tournament

The anticipation surrounding John Cena’s “The Last Time Is Now” tournament continues to grow — and with it, speculation that WWE could bring in non-contracted stars to make the 16-man field truly unforgettable.

At Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cena revealed that the tournament — which begins November 10 on Raw — will feature wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. But what really caught fans’ attention was his hint that talent from outside WWE might also join the bracket.

That tease immediately sent the internet into overdrive, with fantasy booking running wild over potential cross-promotional surprises.

Jericho & Copeland Not Expected to Appear

According to a new report from Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE’s outside-participant tease won’t include two of the biggest rumored names — Chris Jericho and Adam Copeland.

Dave Meltzer clarified that while WWE wants fans to think a massive return could happen, those particular comebacks aren’t in the cards.

“They want to tease the idea that it will be Adam Copeland, which it will not be,” Meltzer said.

When co-host Bryan Alvarez mentioned Jericho, Meltzer shot down that possibility as well, citing his current AEW contract.

“It’s going to end up being someone like Matt Cardona,” he added, implying WWE may look toward recently active free agents or TNA-tied talent rather than major AEW names.

Realistic Outsider Options: Cardona & Nemeth

If WWE does tap outside talent, Matt Cardona and Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler) are two of the most plausible candidates.

Cardona already made a cameo appearance on NXT in October, and his friendship and shared history with Cena make his inclusion both believable and crowd-pleasing. Cena even referenced Cardona earlier this year during his SmackDown “pipebomb tribute” promo.

Nemeth, meanwhile, is also competing in TNA and has long-standing chemistry with Cena from their 2010–2015 WWE rivalry. Their matches — particularly their TLC 2012 showdown — remain fan favorites.

Whether one or both appear, WWE seems intent on blurring company lines just enough to make Cena’s farewell tournament feel like a once-in-a-generation spectacle.

Who Else Could Enter the Bracket?

Within WWE, the hype video at Saturday Night’s Main Event already teased major internal names such as Gunther, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Dominik Mysterio, and Bronson Reed. With Cena set to appear on next Monday’s Raw in Boston, fans may get more answers — and possibly our first big surprise entrant.

Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

If this report holds true, WWE’s “outside talent” tease seems designed to ignite fan speculation without overpromising. The company knows Cena’s farewell tournament is a golden opportunity to unite generations — from Attitude Era icons to modern favorites — but they’re walking a careful line between nostalgia and believability.

While Jericho and Copeland returning was always a long shot, Cardona and Nemeth make perfect sense. Both have WWE roots, name recognition, and fresh relevance outside the company — ideal ingredients for a shocking Raw pop.

Behind the scenes, WWE officials reportedly view this as more than Cena’s sendoff — it’s a chance to remind fans why he’s the face of a generation, while spotlighting the stars who’ll carry that legacy forward.

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