During the February 2nd episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes sparked controversy by giving up his WrestleMania 40 main event spot to The Rock, receiving substantial criticism. However, the storyline took an unforeseen turn during the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, injecting a notable amount of drama into the unfolding scenario. While his WrestleMania status is more or less confirmed, it appears John Cena’s appearance at WrestleMania 40 depends on James Gunn.
It has been more or less confirmed that The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns and square off against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. However, there is always the chance that John Cena could get involved at the Showcase of The Immortals somehow.
John Cena’s WrestleMania 40 Appearance Against The Rock Depends on James Gunn
Following his defeat to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel 2023, John Cena has been absent from WWE TV. After a busy month with the company, Cena shifted his focus back to Hollywood, actively promoting his upcoming movie, Ricky Stanicky.
As WrestleMania 40 approaches, fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating updates on the status of the Greatest Of All Time, John Cena, for the show. Earlier reports indicated WWE’s efforts to secure the return of the 16-time World Champion for the Grandest Stage of them All.
A recent update from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter provides insight into John Cena’s status. According to the report, Cena is scheduled to film the second season of ‘Peacemaker’ in the near future. While his WrestleMania status is not confirmed yet, it hinges on his Hollywood schedule.
Despite a potential appearance, it’s uncertain if John Cena’s return will involve a match, as per the report. If Cena does appear, WWE might plan a segment with less risk but designed to be short and memorable for the Grandest Stage of them All, WrestleMania.
“Cena will soon be filming a second season of “Peacemaker.” There has been some talk about Cena at Mania. It’s basically up to his acting schedule and if there is something going on. If there is, he may appear but couldn’t do anything that would be deemed a risk. We were told that if he does appear, the idea is to do something fun, short and memorable and with substance”
John Cena has not been seen on WWE television since Crown Jewel last year. We will have to wait and see if The Leader of Cenation will somehow make his comeback in April.
John Cena Once Broke The Rock’s Trust
From 2008 to 2009, John Cena criticized The Rock for leaving WWE for Hollywood while he continued to actively compete. However, Cena later acknowledged his mistake and saw the error in his ways.
Their rivalry in 2012 was fueled by real animosity, and during a segment on the February 27th episode of Monday Night RAW, Cena took a swipe at The Rock, suggesting he had lines written on his wrist. According to ex-WWE writer Brian Gewirtz, Cena’s call-out breached trust and created a “disconnect” between the two wrestling icons.
“Rock doing his thing with me going out to interrupt him. And 90 seconds before my music hit, someone to not be named said, ‘yo, do you see that?’ I said, ‘see what?’ [the other person said] ‘I think Rock has something written on his wrist. Everyone was like, ‘yooo!’ because that’s just not allowed.”
Despite their intense on-screen rivalry, John Cena recognizes The Rock’s influence and inspiration in his career, fostering mutual respect between the two legends. Their impact on WWE and beyond is significant.
