'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John Cena hasn't appeared on WWE programming since WrestleMania 36 where he was defeated by Bray Wyatt in the first-ever Firefly Fun House match. There have been rumors over the past year regarding his WWE status and return. It wasn't until last night's appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon that John Cena was able to address these rumors:
“Those rumors are true. I will definitely be back to the WWE, I just don’t know when. Yeah, I posted that back in May. I was feeling rather nostalgic about the WWE, and I just wanted to post the logo. Some people took it as I was returning immediately, which is not the case. I haven’t had my last match and I can’t wait to have my next match,” John Cena declared.
Trending
This revelation has turned many heads in the WWE Universe. There could be a number of reasons why John Cena is looking to return to WWE. Let's examine just five of them.
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
#5. John Cena could respond to Roman Reigns' recent comments
Roman Reigns has become the biggest WWE Superstar in recent months. He has dominated SmackDown as the Universal Champion for almost a full year.
There have been rumors regarding Roman Reigns facing The Rock at WrestleMania 39. The Head of The Table recently sent a message to both The Rock and John Cena regarding a WWE return whilst appearing on ESPN's SportsNation:
“Yeah, that’s a dream for a lot of our fans [Roman Reigns vs. The Rock],” Reigns said. “It ain’t a dream for him, you know what I mean? I get this a lot with Dwayne and John Cena as well. These guys are doing very well for themselves. There’s no question about it, so I don’t know," Reigns said.
Reigns took a snide jab stating that if he was either The Rock or Cena, he'd rather keep pumping out streaming movies rather than return to the ring, since he's a problem for everyone right now.
Reigns was in character when he delivered the message. The former 16-time World Champion could return to SmackDown to give his response in person.
#4. John Cena could eye his 17th World Championship
John Cena shares the record of World Championships with two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
John Cena has stated that he doesn't want to break the record, and it's believed that Charlotte Flair, currently a 12-time Women's Champion, could be the star to break her father's record. However, WWE could have other ideas.
John Cena is one of the biggest names in the company despite not appearing for more than a year. If the former World Champion does make his return to challenge Roman Reigns on SmackDown, then a victory would hand him his 17th World Championship.
The record is there for the taking and even though Cena has stated that he doesn't want to be the one to break the record, it could be an accolade that WWE wants Cena to have.
#3. John Cena could be looking to build up to a match at WrestleMania
John Cena has had some fantastic matches at WWE WrestleManias over the years but failed to appear at WrestleMania 37.
This was the first WrestleMania he missed since 2003, when he was still in the nascent stages of his WWE career. Over the years, the former star has consistently ensured that he has returned in time for WrestleMania, even if he hasn't had a match as part of the show.
WrestleMania 38 will be the first WrestleMania in two years that will be held in front of a packed capacity crowd. WWE could have some huge plans for the show.
If The Rock vs Roman Reigns isn't set to take place until WrestleMania 39 at Los Angeles, perhaps John Cena could return to set up a WrestleMania 38 match against Roman Reigns.
#2. John Cena might be missing the WWE Universe
John Cena hasn't wrestled for more than a year since his appearance at WrestleMania 36, where he lost to Bray Wyatt. For the past two decades, he has toured the world and features on shows regularly with the company. It's possible that even though Cena has gone on to have a successful acting career, he misses wrestling.
The star himself admitted last night during his appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon that he was feeling nostalgic about WWE in May. That's why he posted a picture of the WWE logo on his Instagram account:
“Yeah, I posted that back in May. I was feeling rather nostalgic about the WWE, and I just wanted to post the logo. Some people took it as I was returning immediately, which is not the case," Cena admitted.
Cena has had quite a hectic schedule since being cast as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad. It has taken a while for him to find time to return, but John Cena has always remained loyal to WWE no matter what.
#1. John Cena has unfinished business with Bray Wyatt
John Cena competed in the first-ever Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36, a match that seemed to round up his wrestling career. The former 16-time World Champion was defeated by Bray Wyatt in it and hasn't been seen on WWE programming since.
It's hard to imagine Cena would make his return to WWE without addressing his whereabouts for the past year and its connection to Bray Wyatt.
At present, Bray Wyatt is seemingly taking a break from WWE. However, if Wyatt and his alter-ego do return to the company around the same time as Cena, this feud could continue. It would also be the perfect way for Wyatt to come back and make an impact after some interesting booking decisions from WWE's creative team.
Following his loss to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37 in April, Bray Wyatt has been absent from WWE. He will need a main-event level feud to get his character back on track on Monday Night RAW.
