John Cena

Although it never happened, legendary WWE Superstar John Cena was supposedly open to turning heel at one point in his career.

Appearing on the Cheap Heat podcast (h/t Nitish Vashishtha of ThirstyForNews.com), former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz revealed Cena's reaction to a potential heel turn:

"All right, listen, you want to turn me heel? If that's what Vince [McMahon] says you guys want me to do, I'll do it. But just so you know, I will go full-bore heel. There won't be none of that like, 'Oh, he's a fun heel, he's a cool heel, he's winking at the audience heel.'"

Gewirtz added: "He is going to go full heel. That's what he wants to do, which would have been awesome."

Cena did spend some time as a heel early in his WWE tenure, but his rapper gimmick became so popular that the fan reaction turned him babyface.

He made his main roster debut in 2002, and by 2004 he was on a meteoric rise that saw him become United States champion and then WWE champion in 2005.

From that point forward, Cena would be the face of WWE, although the door has been open for others to take on that role in recent years with Cena focusing more on his burgeoning acting career in Hollywood.

Gewirtz divulged that while turning Cena heel was discussed on multiple occasions, there was always a reason why it couldn't or didn't happen: "We did push plenty of times for John to turn heel, and there was a lot of reasoning going into it. [McMahon] was tempted … but ultimately, there was like the merch [sales] and everything John does."

Perhaps the biggest heel turn in pro wrestling history occurred in 1996 when Hulk Hogan joined the New World Order in WCW and became "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan.

Hogan had been the biggest babyface of all time during his WWE run, but fans in WCW started to sour on him, so the decision to turn him was made, and that helped contribute to WCW Nitro beating WWE Raw in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.

More recently, WWE turned Roman Reigns heel, and the move has been an unquestioned success, as he has become better and more popular than ever and is in the midst of one of the longest world title runs in WWE history.

There is little doubt that Cena would have thrived in a heel role just like Hogan and Reigns, but at this point it seems unlikely that fans will ever see that scenario play out.

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John Cena is looking forward to an eventual WWE in-ring return, but another world title reign may not be in his future.

Speaking last week at Comic-Con Wales (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Cena was noncommittal when asked about potentially becoming a 17-time world champion:

"That's a very difficult question. Like I said, I know I'm not done in the ring. But I am realistic with where I'm at in my life. I'm 45 and I can tell you from being a 16-time champion, it is very tough to win.

"The top of that mountain is a young man's game. So I'm not done in the ring. but I'm not certain that that's in the cards. We'll see. [There are] stories yet to be told, because if I'm in the ring, I got a chance. I am just saying I've been there, so kudos to the young guys doing it."

Cena is recognized as sharing the all-time record for world title reigns with WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair at 16.

Most of Flair's world title reigns occurred in NWA and WCW, but WWE recognizes him as the most decorated world champion in history along with Cena.

While Cena was the face of WWE for well over a decade, he has taken a step back in recent years, opting to focus on his burgeoning career as a superstar actor in Hollywood.

Even so, Cena has found time to return to WWE occasionally, facing "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 and Roman Reigns at last year's SummerSlam.

Cena appeared on Raw a couple of months ago as well, celebrating his 20-year anniversary with WWE. Cena didn't stick around for a match, but he made it clear that he would be back.

It is unclear when his return will happen, but Cena noted that it won't be next month at Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales, as he said during his Comic-Con Wales Q&A session that he won't be present for the event.

Given the crossover appeal Cena now has, he is arguably as valuable to WWE as ever, so it should be big box office when he does eventually return for a match.

Having Cena vie for a world title would also make sense, as the built-in storyline of Cena attempting to break the record is compelling and would likely have audiences captivated.

At the same time, Cena doesn't need to win a world title or even be in the hunt for one to be relevant, as he elevates whoever gets in the ring with him and makes their storyline important.

A 17th world title reign would be an ideal way to cap off a legendary career, but given all Cena has already accomplished, it isn't a necessary accolade.

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This week, skins of WWE legend and Hollywood star John Cena will debut in the popular video game Fortnite.

Fortnite's official Twitter account tweeted Tuesday that the skins will be available for purchase in the Item Shop starting Thursday at 8 p.m. ET:

Live fast, fight hard, no regrets!

John Cena will be making his debut in the Item Shop on July 28 at 8PM ET. Until then, check out our blog to see everything that will be available in his set.

🔗: https://t.co/FRalWzz93L pic.twitter.com/oLtSKEtrro

— Fortnite (@Fortnite) July 26, 2022

According to the press release from Epic Games, gamers will be able to purchase both ring-gear and entrance-gear versions of Cena as part of the Epic SummerSlam promotion in anticipation of Saturday's WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.

Also available for purchase will be a Five Digit Slapper Pickaxe and U Can't C Me Emote, both of which refer to Cena's signature taunt.

The 16-time world champion won't be part of SummerSlam since he is busy fulfilling his duties as one of the fastest-rising stars in Hollywood.

Most notably, Cena is the main character in the HBO Max series Peacemaker, which debuted in January to critical acclaim.

Last month, Cena appeared on an episode of Raw to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his debut on WWE's main roster, and he mentioned his desire to get back in the ring in the future.

With WrestleMania 39 going Hollywood in Inglewood, California, next year, the door may be open for Cena to be part of those festivities.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Cena Reportedly Not Scheduled for SummerSlam

Despite his recent appearance on Raw, it doesn't appear as though John Cena will be part of the SummerSlam card later this month.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Michael Perry of ThirstyForNews.com), there will "almost surely" be no Cena on the SummerSlam card since Mr. Money in the Bank Theory has been announced as the opponent for United States champion Bobby Lashley.

Meltzer also noted Cena isn't being advertised for any shows currently, which is likely a sign that he won't be back on WWE programming any time soon.

A couple of weeks ago, Cena appeared on Raw to celebrate his 20th anniversary on WWE's main roster. Cena cut a promo and also had some interactions with WWE Superstars, including Theory.

Theory has been calling Cena out on social media for quite some time and apparently attempting to goad him into a match. Theory cut a heated promo on Cena in the locker room on Raw, only for Cena to walk away.

Last weekend, Theory dropped the U.S. title to Bobby Lashley at Money in the Bank, but he scored the biggest victory of his career later in the night, winning the men's Money in the Bank ladder match to earn a future world title match.

WWE is clearly positioning Theory to be a top star, so Cena is a logical opponent for him, but it may not be until a bit further down the line, perhaps at next year's WrestleMania.

Until then, Theory will continue his feud with Lashley and look to take back the U.S. title at SummerSlam on July 30.

McAfee Signed WWE Contract Extension Weeks Ago

WWE announced Thursday it signed SmackDown commentator Pat McAfee to a multiyear contract extension, but the agreement was reportedly reached quite some time ago.

According to WrestleVotes, WWE and McAfee came to terms "a few weeks back," and it was "to the thrill of everyone involved."

WrestleVotes also noted that WWE "knows exactly what they have" in McAfee and wanted to make sure to keep him in the fold for the foreseeable future.

WWE did not divulge additional terms of the deal with McAfee, but the new contract means McAfee will continue to bring his entertaining brand of commentary to SmackDown alongside Michael Cole for years to come.

McAfee began doing work for WWE in 2018 as an analyst and even a wrestler in NXT, but in April 2021, he reached a deal to be the SmackDown color commentator.

The former NFL All-Pro punter has thrived in his role due to his quick wit and energy, plus he has started to branch out on the WWE main roster as well.

McAfee faced and defeated Theory in a match at WrestleMania 38, and now, he is set to face Happy Corbin at SummerSlam later this month.

For the past several months, McAfee has disparaged Corbin on commentary, leading to Corbin attacking McAfee after Money in the Bank and accepting his challenge for a SummerSlam match.

Bayley Training for WWE Return at WWE PC

Bayley reportedly took another step this week toward returning to the ring after missing the past year with a torn ACL.

According to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson, Bayley was seen at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, "for several days earlier this week."

A report of Bayley being at the PC came on the heels of Meltzer (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News) reporting recently that Bayley is expected back in action "somewhat soon."

Bayley tore her ACL while training at the PC last July, causing the cancellation of her scheduled SmackDown Women's Championship match against Bianca Belair at Money in the Bank 2021.

Prior to getting injured, Bayley was on the roll of her career, as she had previously held the SmackDown women's title for over a year and was among the top heels in WWE.

After being a beloved babyface in NXT, Bayley struggled to find herself in that role on the main roster, but she proved to be arguably an even better villain.

With a pair of faces in Belair and Liv Morgan holding the women's titles in WWE currently, now would be the perfect time for Bayley to make her return if she is able to do so.

Becky Lynch returned last year at SummerSlam after more than a year off on maternity leave, and SummerSlam would perhaps be the ideal venue for Bayley to return as well.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

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Banks, Naomi Reportedly Still on WWE Roster

Despite rumors of Sasha Banks' release from WWE, she and tag team partner Naomi are reportedly still considered to be with the company.

According to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, Banks and Naomi are still listed on WWE's internal roster, which wouldn't typically be the case for a Superstar who has been released.

WrestlingInc's Raj Giri reported recently that WWE released Banks, but WWE has not announced the move publicly, and it hasn't confirmed such a decision to any news outlets or reporters.

Giri doubled down on Tuesday, reporting that Banks was released on June 10. He added that the reason for WWE's silence may be that the company is trying to "smooth things over" behind the scenes and bring Sasha back into the fold.

Neither Banks nor Naomi have appeared on WWE programming since they walked out during the May 16 episode of Raw.

Banks and Naomi had been scheduled to compete in a six-pack challenge with the winner going on to face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship, but it was changed to a singles match between Becky Lynch and Asuka instead.

During that episode of Raw, WWE released a statement giving its side of what happened and condemning the actions of Banks and Naomi:

Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on tonight’s Raw after Banks had issues with “creative ideas pitched,” per @PWInsidercom

WWE issued a statement afterwards pic.twitter.com/c7PZc3K4KL

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) May 17, 2022

On the ensuing episode of SmackDown, WWE announced that Banks and Naomi had been suspended indefinitely and stripped them of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

WWE hasn't mentioned Banks or Naomi on TV in quite some time, and neither Banks nor Naomi have spoken on the situation publicly.

The women's tag team division has essentially been nonexistent during their absence, and WWE has been without two of its top female Superstars.

Both Banks and Naomi are former women's champions individually, and it can be argued that there is no bigger female star in all of wrestling than Sasha.

The Boss has delivered time and time again in the ring, main evented Night 1 of WrestleMania against Bianca Belair last year and is involved with the Star Wars franchise after appearing in The Mandalorian.

Losing one or both of Banks and Naomi would be a major blow to WWE, which is why it is understandable why the company is seemingly trying to keep them in the fold.

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Update on Lesnar's Upcoming TV Schedule

Brock Lesnar is set to have a busy schedule ahead of his undisputed WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam next month.

According to Michael Perry of Ringside News, Lesnar is being advertised to appear on the July 11 episode of Raw in San Antonio.

Perry added that The Beast Incarnate is being advertised for the July 22 SmackDown in Boston and July 29 SmackDown in Atlanta as well.

The SmackDown in Atlanta is the go-home episode prior to SummerSlam, which will emanate from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 30.

Lesnar made his long-awaited WWE return on SmackDown a couple of weeks ago by confronting Reigns after a successful title defense against Riddle. Lesnar pretended to shake Reigns' hand before hitting him with an F-5.

Before that, Lesnar hadn't been seen since WrestleMania 38 when he dropped the WWE Championship to Reigns in a winner-take-all unification match for both the WWE and universal titles in the main event.

After Lesnar attacked The Tribal Chief on SmackDown, the rematch was made official for SummerSlam with a Last Man Standing stipulation.

Lesnar is a part-time Superstar who doesn't appear regularly on television, but the WWE Universe will see plenty of him in the coming weeks.

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Gunther Wants Match vs. Cena

Count intercontinental champion Gunther among those with a dream match against John Cena on their mind.

In response to a tweet by the WWE on Fox account suggesting Cena should go after the Intercontinental Championship, Gunther tweeted the following on Tuesday:

Ready! https://t.co/IVvENhjlYN

— GUNTHER (@Gunther_AUT) June 28, 2022

The IC title is one of the few major titles Cena has never held, so it isn't outside the realm of possibility that it could be in the 16-time world champion's sights.

After dominating in NXT UK and NXT, Gunther officially made the move to the main roster a couple of months ago, and he has been an unstoppable force on SmackDown.

In almost no time, Gunther defeated Ricochet to become the new intercontinental champion, and he has already retained the title against Ricochet in a rematch.

The Ring General seems poised for a long and destructive title reign, and Cena may be one of the few Superstars capable of stopping him

After nearly a year away from WWE, Cena returned on Monday's episode of Raw to celebrate 20 years with the company.

WWE hasn't announced when he will return next or if he is going to wrestle in the near future, but Gunther stands out as one of the best possible opponents for him.

Given how much United States champion Theory has been pushing for a match against Cena and the fact that he confronted Cena backstage on Raw, however, a Cena vs. Gunther match may not be in the cards any time soon.

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WWE again finds itself in an unenviable position, with its creative plans struck down by injuries to Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, and creative bankruptcy preventing it from having replacements ready to step in and headline one of the most significant pay-per-views of the year.

Its solution? The same as it always is: Recruit two Superstars from yesteryear to bring star power to its shows.

Brock Lesnar returned on Friday's SmackDown and will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of SummerSlam on July 30 in a Last Man Standing match.

And John Cena will celebrate his two decades with the company Monday night on Raw and is expected to jump-start a program that will culminate at the same event at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mr. McMahon prepares the WWE Universe for @JohnCena’s return. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/2Adhub19Ff

— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2022

None of this should be surprising to fans familiar with the WWE product over the last decade, but it does beg the question: What will this most recent run have in store for the returning icons and the fans who tune into the company's television programming?

But first, how we got here.

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A Reliance on Part-Time Stars

By 2011, it became clear WWE was no longer the star-making machine it had been in previous years.

The company looked to The Rock, who returned from a seven-year hiatus for a two-year program with Cena. The Undertaker and Triple H popped up on TV to hype major PPV matches, and even Kevin Nash made his presence felt in a desperate attempt by the company to bolster its young roster with marquee names.

A year later, Lesnar would return to the company, the latest in a trend of WWE officials increasingly relying on part-time performers to help sell major PPVs rather than taking the time and effort to create new stars to run atop the card for the future.

The retirements of Undertaker and Triple H, and a return to Hollywood for The Rock, ensured that subsided somewhat, but Lesnar continued to pop up from time to time, typically as WWE prepared for WrestleMania or SummerSlam.

BROCK LESNAR IS BACK 😳

(via @WWE)pic.twitter.com/VPogdWJUqq

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) June 18, 2022

Then Cena, once a critic of The Rock for failing to appear consistently to show his love for WWE and its fans, found success of his own in movies and television and took on a part-time schedule that has seen him pop up when needed for a big-time bout.

On one hand, it makes sense that an entertainment company would recruit its most recognizable stars to help sell a major production. If Universal or Fox Studios wanted to sell a passion project by Hollywood's biggest director, they would turn to a Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts or George Clooney to help do that, even if they had not been regularly acting to that point.

The same goes for WWE, which recognizes the need for an attraction and calls in the heavy hitters for its most prestigious extravaganzas.

On the other hand, it does prevent the company from building its current crop of stars to slide into that role in the future. With only Reigns really standing head and shoulders above everyone else as the undisputed star of the promotion, where would WWE go if he retired or was injured?

There is no other Rock, Cena or Lesnar walking in the door anytime soon, and nor is there anyone on the roster right now who could popup a decade from now for a one-off match and create the impact these men do when they return to WWE programming.

Thus, it becomes paramount WWE utilizes the names it has on its roster in a way that helps them achieve that level of stardom so that it has a pool to select from when it needs major attractions years down the line.

While Lesnar vs. Reigns hardly helps with that situation, Cena could be poised to confirm one of the brightest young stars as the future of the company with his upcoming return.

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What to Expect from Cena, Lesnar

On June 6, Cena posted an image to his Instagram account of a black boot smothering the United States Championship.

As is typically the case on that particular account, it appeared to be a subliminal message over what fans can expect from the all-timer when he returns to WWE programming.

Sure, the 45-year-old is scheduled to celebrate two decades with WWE on Monday's Raw, but would it surprise anyone if a certain egotistical young U.S. champion interrupted the legendary competitor and jump-started a feud that could culminate at SummerSlam?

Theory has been one of the breakout stars of WWE over the last few months and recently took to his own Twitter account, in connection with a recently released photoshoot, to seemingly taunt Cena.

Sincerely yours, Stan pic.twitter.com/9tTPWda0xx

— Austin Theory (@_Theory1) June 16, 2022

Pairing the 24-year-old against the biggest star WWE has produced since the Attitude Era is a brilliant move, should that be the direction the company chooses.

It not only gives Theory the rub of sharing the ring with an internationally recognized professional wrestler but also a bonafide Hollywood star.

Such a pairing announces to the world that WWE believes in the younger man as the next face of the company and you should, too.

It is the type of reaffirmation that stars across the roster could have used over the years to better strengthen their credibility and prepare them to jump into a program in case of emergency, such as the one WWE currently faces with the absences of Rhodes and Orton.

Most importantly, a match with Cena provides Theory with one of those early highlight-reel moments he can pair with his WrestleMania 38 match against Pat McAfee and show as proof of his ability to perform up to the moment, against high-profile opponents.

That, as much as booking, is important to a Superstar's credibility and the fans' perception of them as a big deal.

Lesnar and Reigns will have another heavy-hitting main event that leads to questions about WWE's reliance on that particular contest to draw fans when the audience has already been overexposed to it.

Thankfully, Cena vs. Theory is a match that may not grab as many headlines, but it could be the catalyst for the latter's rise and the start of a Hall of Fame career.

All thanks to a star such as Cena, who recognizes the importance of veterans in helping to establish a young performer—just as Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho did for him.

Monday's announcement that John Cena will return to our screens on June 27 to celebrate 20 years with WWE could not have come at a better time for a company still reeling from the news that Cody Rhodes will be out of action for up to six months.

BREAKING NEWS: @JohnCena returns to #WWERaw on Monday, June 27 to celebrate his 20 Year Anniversary with @WWE. pic.twitter.com/l8yurlx2wX

— WWE (@WWE) June 7, 2022

Cena is the hero Raw needs right now. He is the greatest and most recognizable babyface the company has seen since the peak of Hulkamania.

And with Rhodes unable to continue his journey to the WWE Championship for now, The Leader of the Cenation should pick up where he left off, right down to the feud with Seth Rollins.

The MVP of WWE for the better part of the last year, Rollins reached peak heel territory Monday when he suckered the former All Elite Wrestling executive into a false sign of respect, only to attack him and further injure his damaged pectoral muscle.

It was a great segment and showed the depths to which The Visionary will sink to get the last laugh on an opponent.

With no other babyface on the roster popular enough to hang with Rollins' extraordinary heel persona at this point, Cena is the perfect opponent, not only because their characters mesh but also because of the history that exists between them.

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The History of Cena vs. Rollins

Cena and Rollins have history dating back to 2013, when they wrestled their first match during the latter's run with The Shield.

From there, Cena captained a team against Rollins in the 2014 Survivor Series main event before embarking on a number of singles matches that were key to the young heel's development into a legitimate WWE main-eventer.

In 2015, they shared the ring with Brock Lesnar in an early Match of the Year candidate at the Royal Rumble before breaking off into a series of singles matches that primed The Architect for the WWE title run he would go on post-WrestleMania 31.

Over the course of their lengthy run as opponents, Cena and Rollins rarely had a bad match. In fact, their chemistry was so strong that many an episode of Raw or a high-profile pay-per-view was stolen by their contests.

Look no further than SummerSlam in 2015, when they tore up the Barclays Center with a stunning contest, stealing the show out from underneath a hotly anticipated Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar main event.

Cena essentially made Rollins during their rivalry, with his efforts in those fights telling the fans to believe in the young star as much as he did. His influence on Rollins being accepted at that level is undeniable and should play into the resumption of their feud.

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The Next Chapter

The absence of Rhodes will leave WWE hunting for a top-tier babyface.

Bobby Lashley is certainly over, and Edge will be returning to that side of the roster following his dismissal from The Judgment Day, but neither feel like characters strong enough to spar with Rollins right now.

The Visionary is on a whole new level, both as a character and in the ring. He has become the main event attraction he and WWE have strived for his entire career.

Rollins has carried the red brand through 2022. He has earned a high-profile feud entering Money in the Bank and SummerSlam, and there are few bigger programs available than another showdown with Cena.

Rollins interrupting Cena's return and 20-year celebration by reminding him that the monster he has become was created by the 16-time world champion all those years ago would be fantastic. The veteran vowing to end The Visionary's reign of terror is an easy story to tell and one fans would buy into immediately.

And WWE could use its vast video library to tell the story of a past rivalry reengaging.

There would be some concerns about ring rust on the part of Cena and his ability to shake it off to match Rollins' unrivaled talent between the ropes at this point in his career.

The 36-year-old is approaching the level of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, by consistently delivering every time he sets foot inside the squared circle. Those contributions have helped earn him the status of WWE MVP.

Whether Cena can match Rollins at this point in his career would be the biggest question mark entering the proposed match.

Then again, Cena was once labeled "Big Match John" for his ability to rise to the occasion and save his best for the greatest spotlights in professional wrestling. He may not be the performer he was, but there's no reason to believe he can't prove himself one more time.

There is also an argument that the 45-year-old's star power should not be wasted on Rollins, who has already achieved everything WWE can offer, and he should be utilized to help elevate young talent instead, like Theory.

There is credence in that, but Rhodes' injury has changed everything. And the fact that Rollins has come out of three straight losses to The American Nightmare somehow stronger as a heel only adds a greater sense of urgency to act on it.

It should not let him cool down.

The best way to do that is by utilizing a beloved babyface such as Cena to enhance what is already a red-hot character.

A teenager who fled Ukraine with his family amid the ongoing Russian invasion recently met his hero.

John Cena traveled to Amsterdam this past Saturday to meet Misha and his mother Liana. Their home was destroyed during the war, and Misha's mother would motivate him as they journeyed to safety by telling him they were on their way to find Cena.

.@JohnCena meets Misha, a teen who fled Ukraine after his home was destroyed.

To motivate Misha on their journey to safety, his mother told him they were on their way to find Cena. pic.twitter.com/0Aeab4GkPZ

— WWE (@WWE) June 7, 2022

"When I read about Misha's story, it reached out to me, not just Misha's story but the story of Misha's mom as well," Cena said. "Having three days off from work right at the time when I read this story and being an hour away by air, it turned immediately into 'We're going.' And that means spending an afternoon building blocks and eating cake. That's a special afternoon when it comes to the new friends I was able to make."

Cena also gave Misha some merchandise and a replica WWE Championship belt. He thanked Misha for his strength, and his mother told Cena he has a big heart.