WWE's biggest pay-per-view event of the year, Wrestlemania, is rapidly approaching and rumors continue to swirl regarding which matches will be on the card. The Undertaker essentially confirmed his Wrestlemania 36 opponent during WWE's Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, but there are two other legends who still need dance partners for The Show of Shows.
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First, we'll start with 16-time WWE Champion John Cena, who is scheduled to make his return to SmackDown this Friday. Initial reports suggested that Cena would be appearing to set up a match with Elias at Wrestlemania 36, although it no longer appears that will be the case.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer, WWE is currently planning for Cena to go one-on-one with "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt on April 5th. Wyatt, who had been rumored to defend his title against Roman Reigns, unexpectedly dropped the Universal Championship to Goldberg at Super ShowDown.
Speaking of Goldberg and Reigns, Meltzer notes that the two former college football players will go head to head at Wrestlemania 36. Reigns wrapped up his beef with Baron Corbin today in Saudi Arabia and is in need of a fresh feud as the road to Wrestlemania nears its end. It remains to be seen how they'll set up a clash between the new Universal Champion and The Big Dog, but we'll likely find out sooner than later as we're roughly five weeks away from the show.
John Cena’s Rumored Wrestlemania 36 Opponent Revealed
John Cena will reportedly have a match at Wrestlemania 36 against a WWE superstar he has had multiple Wrestlemania run-ins with.
WWE legend John Cena is scheduled to make his return to SmackDown later this month, and it is believed that he will put the wheels in motion for an in-ring return at Wrestlemania. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Cena will indeed be featured on the Wrestlemania 36 card, with current plans calling for him to go one-on-one with Elias.
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Cena and Elias have some built-in history at Wrestlemania so this isn’t totally out of left field. The 16-time WWE champion reprised his role as The Doctor Of Thuganomics at Wrestlemania 35, where he interrupted Elias’ concert and delivered a swift Attitude Adjustment before exiting the ring. The two also had a confrontation at Wrestlemania 34, although it was The Undertaker that Cena ended up facing off against.
2019 marked the first time in more than 15 years that Cena went a full calendar year without having a match at a pay-per-view event. His last bout came in January 2019 in a triple threat match against Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre.
As mentioned, Cena will be making his return to SmackDown on February 28th at the TD Garden in Boston. The WWE has not yet revealed what role he’ll play on the show, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise if his in-ring monologue is interrupted by Elias, paving the way for their showdown at Raymond James Stadium on April 5.
Let us know what you think about Cena’s rumored Wrestlemania 36 opponent, and click here to see who the WWE has lined up for The Undertaker.
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John Cena Teases Return At Wrestlemania 36
Cena continues to hint at a return for Wrestlemania.
16-time WWE Champion John Cena has transitioned from a full-time competitor in the WWE to a Hollywood actor, but he always seems to come around for "The Show of Shows," Wrestlemania. And with the road to Wrestlemania kicking off at the Royal Rumble later this month, fans are wondering if The Face That Runs The Place will be in action when the WWE invades Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on April 5.
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cena spoke about his wrestling days and the possibility of a return at Wrestlemania 36.
"I always like for them to give me ideas and then me kind of make it my own. I know we have have a small, large event called WrestleMania around the corner. It just so happens to be in Tampa. That's kinda where I live, so I'll be in the neighborhood. Suicide Squad should be done. But it's not like I call someone up and be like, 'I wanna be in WrestleMania.' Those spots are very coveted. There are performers that work all year, 250 shows a year, to earn those spots. I would love to earn one of those spots."
2019 marked the first time in more than 15 years that Cena went a full calendar year without having a match at a pay-per-view event. He wrestled sparingly last January and reprised his role as The Doctor Of Thuganomics at Wrestlemania 35 but that was just for a segment with Elias and not a real match.
Furthering the belief that Cena's will return for Wrestlemania 36, he recrently told Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, "And on the subject of WrestleMania, I can tell you this—I haven’t missed a WrestleMania since my first appearance at WrestleMania 19, and I do not plan to miss a WrestleMania for decades to come.”
Randy Orton has thrown his hat in the ring for a Mania match with Cena - but as Cena noted, we'll just have to wait and see what Vince McMahon and co.
