“It’s Too Crowded!” – WWE Legend Matt Hardy Explains Why John Cena’s Hall of Fame Induction Needs to Wait
The Road to WrestleMania is officially underway, and for WWE fans, that doesn’t just mean great matches—it also means getting emotional during the annual Hall of Fame ceremony. It’s a night where legends are celebrated, stories are told, and retired superstars get one last round of applause.
This year, the spotlight was supposed to shine on one of the biggest names in WWE history: John Cena. After wrapping up his emotional Farewell Tour in December 2025 with a final loss to Gunther, The Cenation Leader seems like a lock for the Hall of Fame. However, one wrestling veteran thinks we need to pump the brakes on those gold statuettes for Cena—at least for another year.
In a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the iconic Matt Hardy shared his honest take on the 2026 Hall of Fame class. While no one is denying Cena’s legacy, Hardy believes the timing just isn’t right.
“I think Cena seems like a little too much for this year,” Hardy explained. “In theory, they could do it, but I almost think they should hold him off until next year.”
Hardy’s reasoning comes down to the star power already taking up space in the 2026 lineup. The ballot is already looking stacked. Stephanie McMahon was announced as the first inductee back in September, and the class got even heavier recently when AJ Styles—who officially hung up his boots in his hometown of Atlanta—was named the second inductee (with The Undertaker himself breaking the news).
With a class already featuring two massive headliners like Stephanie and Styles, Hardy suggests that adding Cena to the mix would be overkill, robbing the 16-time World Champion of the solo spotlight he truly deserves.
What About a Saudi Arabia Ceremony?
As the conversation shifted to the possibility of a 2027 induction, Hardy couldn’t help but look ahead to the location. WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, meaning the Hall of Fame ceremony would take place there as well.
“I don’t know. The Saudi Arabia Hall of Fame is certainly going to be interesting, no doubt about it,” Hardy noted, hinting at the unique atmosphere a Cena-led ceremony in the Middle East could bring.
Whether Cena gets the call this year or next, it’s clear the WWE Universe is waiting for the moment The Cenation Leader finally takes his rightful place among the immortals. But as Hardy points out, sometimes the best things come to those who wait.”It’s Too Crowded!” – WWE Legend Matt Hardy Explains Why John Cena’s Hall of Fame Induction Needs to Wait
The Road to WrestleMania is officially underway, and for WWE fans, that doesn’t just mean great matches—it also means getting emotional during the annual Hall of Fame ceremony. It’s a night where legends are celebrated, stories are told, and retired superstars get one last round of applause.
This year, the spotlight was supposed to shine on one of the biggest names in WWE history: John Cena. After wrapping up his emotional Farewell Tour in December 2025 with a final loss to Gunther, The Cenation Leader seems like a lock for the Hall of Fame. However, one wrestling veteran thinks we need to pump the brakes on those gold statuettes for Cena—at least for another year.
In a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the iconic Matt Hardy shared his honest take on the 2026 Hall of Fame class. While no one is denying Cena’s legacy, Hardy believes the timing just isn’t right.
“I think Cena seems like a little too much for this year,” Hardy explained. “In theory, they could do it, but I almost think they should hold him off until next year.”
Hardy’s reasoning comes down to the star power already taking up space in the 2026 lineup. The ballot is already looking stacked. Stephanie McMahon was announced as the first inductee back in September, and the class got even heavier recently when AJ Styles—who officially hung up his boots in his hometown of Atlanta—was named the second inductee (with The Undertaker himself breaking the news).
With a class already featuring two massive headliners like Stephanie and Styles, Hardy suggests that adding Cena to the mix would be overkill, robbing the 16-time World Champion of the solo spotlight he truly deserves.
What About a Saudi Arabia Ceremony?
As the conversation shifted to the possibility of a 2027 induction, Hardy couldn’t help but look ahead to the location. WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, meaning the Hall of Fame ceremony would take place there as well.
“I don’t know. The Saudi Arabia Hall of Fame is certainly going to be interesting, no doubt about it,” Hardy noted, hinting at the unique atmosphere a Cena-led ceremony in the Middle East could bring.
Whether Cena gets the call this year or next, it’s clear the WWE Universe is waiting for the moment The Cenation Leader finally takes his rightful place among the immortals. But as Hardy points out, sometimes the best things come to those who wait.
