5 ways WWE can make WrestleMania in 2023 their biggest ever

#4. John Cena goes for his record-breaking WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania

Can WWE realistically plan its "biggest ever" WrestleMania without the one man whose name has been synonymous with the company for almost two decades?

John Cena has transcendent star power from even before his current stint in Hollywood. He is arguably the greatest to have ever done it.

The once polarizing figurehead in WWE has seamlessly transitioned into Hollywood - much like The Rock before him - but still finds himself appearing on WWE programming more often than his predecessor.

However, this may not last long as the 16-time world champion figures to be a major player in the DC Extended Universe going forward, along with his other acting gigs.

The 44-year old veteran is no longer the "Face That Runs The Place," which is precisely why the fans have started appreciating him on a more universal level in recent years.

His willingness towards his later wrestling years to selflessly put over the US Championship, along with a plethora of young up-and-comers (Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, and The Fiend, just to name a few), has resonated with even the most critical of WWE fans while restoring his popularity as a beloved babyface.

Should Cena agree to return in time for WrestleMania next year, WWE should absolutely have him go for his record-breaking WWE Championship run.

He could go up against the champion on RAW at that time, and while Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, and Edge all make for compelling cases to be champion come WrestleMania 39, the one man who would make most sense is Randy Orton.

Cena and Orton are no strangers to each other, but while they have faced off (what feels like) hundreds of times in their parallel running careers, it's baffling to realize how WWE has never booked its two long-standing cornerstones in a one-on-one contest at its biggest stage.

With 2014's Hell In A Cell being the last time they collided on pay-per-view, both men have stepped away from their seemingly permanent main event slot to let others take the spotlight.

A potential showdown at WrestleMania next year could be termed as their last (a la "End Of An Era") in hopes of bringing back lapsed WWE fans specifically from the past ten years or so.

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#5. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin makes his in-ring return at WrestleMania 39

And speaking of bringing back lapsed fans, should WWE want to appeal to the its fans from its most popular era, it doesn't get bigger than 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.

Recent reports have clearly indicated that WWE has already started discussing Austin's in-ring return at WrestleMania 38 from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, just over a month from now.

In all fairness, if ever the Texas Rattlesnake were to return, his home state of Texas would be the ideal place. Imagine the fan reaction he would command, easily triumphing over anyone else competing that night.

But if WWE is genuinely considering blowing all editions of their biggest show away with the one they would put up in 2023, such a monstrous return should be savored for that event instead.

Think about it. We are already halfway through the "Road to WrestleMania," which means most of the card has already been set for the event this year. A return as big as that of Austin should be presented as the biggest thing going in wrestling.

The last thing WWE would want to do is rush Austin's return to TV just a few episodes away from WrestleMania and then have him compete somewhere in the middle of the card, which no one remembers post April.

If it is, in fact, Kevin Owens that WWE wants Austin to face in his first (and maybe only match back), a better creative decision would be to have Owens go on this unusual rivalry with the residents of Texas over the next month or so.

At WrestleMania 38, Owens should come out for a heel promo on the fans, only to be interrupted by the glass shattering sound, and out comes Steve Austin. Now that's a reaction yours truly would love to see.

WWE can then use the entire year to build towards this match - something similar to how The Rock announced his match with Cena a year in advance. Not only would it give WWE time to build anticipation for Austin's inevitable return to action this way, but it would also allow them to book Owens strongly for once.

What do you think WWE should do to make Mania 39 its greatest ever?

Let us know in the comments below.