John Cena stood toe-to-toe with Randy Orton within the ring on the newest SmackDown, and for these questioning what he’ll do on Monday Night time Uncooked on Netflix, the reply is nothing. It seems that whereas we’ll nonetheless stream the brand new Undisputed WWE Champion’s title protection with a Peacock subscription, he is not due again to seem on tv till the day earlier than the massive PLE.
CinemaBlend has written extensively about our expectations for John Cena’s retirement tour and the folks we want to see him tackle within the ring. We’re not even a month into his title reign, and I am already sensing a serious criticism I will have about this run once I look again on it. For somebody who was so persistently the face of WWE over time, John Cena’s surprising heel flip does not hit as laborious when he is solely displaying up sometimes.
John Cena’s Restricted Availability Reminds Me How A lot I Dislike Absent Champions
After watching Cody Rhodes present up within the WWE most each week of his title reign, we’re now again to the times the place a champion solely exhibits up a part of the time. It occurred throughout Roman Reigns lengthy title reign, and for Brock Lesnar earlier than he was seemingly blacklisted from the corporate for his ties to Vince McMahon’s ongoing authorized points. Level being, John Cena is not the primary to be a “part-time champion,” and he doubtless will not be the final.
I believe what makes it extra noticeable is that Cena was traditionally by no means an absent champion throughout his time within the WWE. He was the face of the model, and whereas his taking the title away is on model for his promise to “smash professional wrestling,” It additionally runs the chance of leading to some underwhelming feuds with superstars.
This Being John Cena’s Closing 12 months In Wrestling Makes It Sting Extra Than It Did With Roman Reigns Or Brock Lesnar
We have seen cases the place one famous person is absent and underwhelms time and time once more, and the newest instance is in what ought to have been John Cena’s largest match in years. The primary occasion suffered from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s absence, and even with rapper Travis Scott prepared to step in and fill his footwear, it simply does not substitute for the precise particular person being there.
John Cena isn’t any exception to this, and whereas the WWE can promote all of it as being a part of a storyline wherein he is ruining wrestling, we all know the reality. Cena is a busy particular person, and between his appearing profession and different commitments, he can solely dedicate a restricted period of time to skilled wrestling at this stage in his profession.
Sadly, I believe there is a risk that as a result of Cena can solely dedicate a lot time to the WWE, there will likely be a couple of cases on this ultimate yr the place folks really feel that his heel run was incomplete or lacked the hearth we have seen in his earlier storylines. Would extra appearances repair this? It is unimaginable to say, although I can state that I cherished his run in the course of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the place he may seem on tv fairly persistently. We’ll see how this ultimate run goes.
John Cena is scheduled to return to SmackDown on Friday, Might ninth, at some point earlier than Backlash. Will Randy Orton be capable to RKO his solution to one other world title in his house state? I might like to see it occur, however I believe Cena has his quantity this time.