Following a 479 day hiatus, 16-time World Champion John Cena made a stunning return to the WWE during the 2021 Money in the Bank PPV event.
‘The Leader of the C-Nation’ last appeared for the WWE at WrestleMania 36 during the divisive Firefly Funhouse Match against ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt, Cena would ultimately come out on the losing end of the cinematic bout leading to a 15-month hiatus from the WWE which would see Cena pursue interests outside of wrestling, mainly acting in Hollywood franchises such as The Suicide Squad and The Fast and Furious series.
Following a gruelling main event between Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Edge, Cena made his shocking return. After Seth Rollins had cost Edge the match, he and the Rated R Superstar fought through the crowd and out of sight. This left Reigns who had barely retained his title alone in the ring.
As Paul Heyman summoned a microphone, Reigns declared that everyone should acknowledge him, as Cena’s music hit to a thunderous reception. The sixteen-time world champion briefly stared down the unimpressed champion before saluting the crowd as the show went off the air.
🎺🎺🎺 🎺@JohnCena is BACK!!! 🤯 #MITBpic.twitter.com/QsXF8OxDr2
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2021
A recent report from Fightful Select anticipated ‘The Doctor of Thuganomics’ return to the WWE
The report suggested that Cena would return to WWE “within the next 11 days” with the working plan being that he would appear on the July 23rd episode of SmackDown. However, it is also noted that plans change and the former world champion could be back in a WWE ring before that date.
The new information tallied with an earlier report which suggested that the planned main event for SummerSlam is a showdown between Cena and Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
The 16-time world champion had been increasingly open about retuning in recent weeks, commenting that it’s a matter of when and not if, he will be back.
Cena recently wrapped filming on HBO series Peacemaker according to the show’s writer and director James Gunn. This reportedly leaves the way clear for ‘Mr Hustle, Loyalty and Respect’ to return to the ring for WWE’s summer spectacular.
John Cena signed for WWE in 2001, making his television debut the following year. Cena has gone on to enjoy extraordinary success during his ring-ring career, before transitioning into Hollywood.
In recent years Cena’s appearances with WWE have become less frequent, but it appears that he isn’t done wrestling just yet.