John Cena

The Rock's return to WWE on Valentine's Day 2011 episode of Raw sparked excitement around the pro wrestling industry and put The Great One on a collision course with John Cena in a feud that culminated in the biggest dream match of all time, but the impact it has had on the wrestling industry has had nothing to do with the Hollywood leading man.

Nor does it affect his place in the pantheon of WWE Superstars.

No, The Rock's return a decade ago set in motion a parade of part-time performers and industry icons that has stunted the company's growth and allowed WWE to mask its inability to create new stars.

                 

But First, a Homecoming

From the moment he set foot on his first movie set, Dwayne Johnson reiterated his desire to one day return to the squared circle. He said all the right things—WWE was his home, and he would never really be gone.

And then he was. For eight years.

In that time, he became the star of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster stars. He was everywhere, making a name and legacy for himself that extended beyond the industry he had previously taken to new heights. He achieved such tremendous success in film that the idea of his return to a wrestling industry as ice-cold as it was entering a new decade was laughable.

And then he did.

Rediscovering his Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment moniker, he stepped through the curtain to a thunderous ovation and took to the ring to formally accept his role as the host of WrestleMania XXVII.

It was unforgettable and left audiences in awe, goosebumps up and down their arms. It was the unthinkable, a moment in time from a company that seemingly forgot how to produce them.

The Rock's return and the feud with Cena that unfolded over the proceeding year resulted in unprecedented box office success. It also gave way to WWE's troubling habit of looking to the past for its present.

                 

What's Old Is New Again

Throughout the 2000s, WWE routinely relied on the stars of its Attitude Era to help prop up television ratings, house show attendance and pay-per-view buy rates.

Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and Kane all took center stage at key times of the year in the hopes of propping sagging numbers, so WWE's reliance on aging stars was not necessarily a surprise by the time The Rock returned.

Nor was it when Brock Lesnar returned from the Octagon of the UFC to wreak havoc, raise hell and beat up any fool in his path.

The success of The Rock opened the door for Vince McMahon to throw a ton of money at Lesnar to return to wrestling. The Lesnar effect, and Undertaker's yearly return for WrestleMania matches and the paydays that came with them, opened McMahon's eyes to the wealth of possibilities that existed for him and his company to welcome back stars of yesteryear in limited or part-time roles.

There was Triple H's annual comeback in time for The Showcase of the Immortals and then Kurt Angle dusting off his singlet for one last chance at glory. Ronda Rousey made like Lesnar and chased her dreams from the UFC to WWE.

The company's Saudi Arabian shows brought with them the returns of The Deadman and The Big Red Machine, The Game and The Heartbreak Kid to diminishing returns. The company even turned to The Hardy Boyz for a grand WrestleMania return.

Goldberg's return in 2016 started off excellently with a two-minute squash of Lesnar in the Survivor Series main event, but like most things WWE, it was watered down, overexposed and beaten into irrelevance before too long.

Even The Rock's grand return was soiled by the time 2013 and a rematch with Cena at WrestleMania 29 rolled around. The bloom was off that proverbial rose, but McMahon and Co. never learned their lesson.

To this day, the promotion continues to trot out legends in high-profile matches rather than turning its attention to the issue that plagues it most: the creation of new, exciting and fresh stars.

Until it recognizes its shortcomings in that regard, the company will continue to look for Superstars from days gone by to make cameos and wrestle in high-profile main events, only to realize that after a while, it will have no new names to pull from because it so inadequately created any from this era.

Hopefully it learns its lesson sooner rather than later because The Rock's 2011 return was the stuff of magic. It was the sort of thing that makes fans eager to show off the industry they love to others and, maybe, create new fans.

It has not been robbed of its specialness because of repetition to gradually weakening returns. Best of all, it was accomplished with one goal in mind: cement Cena, that era's top star, as an icon of his time. It worked. Rock lent Cena his credibility, and everyone hugged and high-fived right to the bank.

Why? Because fans cared about a returning star in a way they cannot possibly today thanks to the oversaturation of part-timers and aging veterans who have limped their way on screen and off without any noticeable benefit to the long-term success of the company.

The Rock's return to WWE in 2011 is the sort of thing missing from today's product and something the WWE product will be devoid of until it changes its booking philosophy.

John Cena disagrees with The Undertaker's recent remarks that today's WWE product is "a little soft."

Cena spoke with Forbes' Alfred Konuwa about that topic and other matters in an exclusive interview that published Tuesday.

"I guess I've viewed the WWE as a product outside of myself for a long time. I guess that's why I was so interested in the business side of it from very early on in my career. In that, I've seen it evolve, but I've also been called 'everything that's ruined sports entertainment.' I could look at the economics of it and make an argument that between myself—and the large amount of folks that carried on the roster beyond the Attitude Era into the Ruthless Aggression Era and the Reality Era—the fans of the Attitude Era certainly looked at our product as not what they're used to, and it wasn't. So I may have a bit of disagreement with Undertaker's word choice because I don't think it's soft, I think it's different."

Cena also spoke about how "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who has made appearances during the WWE's PG Era, had to adjust from his heyday in the Attitude Era, when he had the freedom to chug beer, curse, toss up middle fingers and do other things he couldn't get away with today.

Cena said Austin told him, "I don't know how you do this!" but also gave credit to the Rattlesnake.

"But if he had enough time, he's a great performer, he could get used to it," Cena said.

As for The Undertaker, he went on The Joe Rogan Experience on Jan. 20 and said the following, per Marco Rovere of Wrestling Inc:

"I try, it's tough right now for me. The product has changed so much and it's kind of off. I'll probably piss a lot of people off but they need to hear it. It is what it is. To the young guys [who think] he's a bitter old guy, I'm not bitter. I did my time, I walked away when I wanted to walk away. I just think the product is a little soft. There's guys here and there that have an edge to them but there's too much pretty and not enough substance I think right now."

WWE Superstar Roman Reigns addressed those remarks when speaking with Jimmy Traina on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), noting how today's matches are far more physical in part because of "false finishes":

"We do the same job. It's not like the bumps got any worse or any better. You're always hearing 'a dropkick was a finish back in my time.' A dropkick is like the second move you see in a wrestling match nowadays. We're doing a lot more. And sometimes I think we're a lot more physical. And because the audience has seen so much more, we have to do a little more in order to pique their interest, in order to show them something different.

"What we call a false finish, a pin that people believe will be the final move of a match, we go through those like Steamboat-Savage. You'll see that on a SmackDown. You'll see 15 false finishes on a SmackDown."

Reigns did make it clear how much he respects 'Taker, believing he may have "misspoke."

"Because Mark [Calaway] is a really good guy," Reigns said. "He's very knowledgable. Obviously, he has a ton of respect for the business."

The Undertaker is one of professional wrestling's most decorated and respected members of the industry. The seven-time world champion and six-time tag team champion also earned a Hardcore title and a Royal Rumble win during a WWE career that spanned from 1990 to 2020, ending with his record 25th WrestleMania victory.

When he speaks about the business, people listen, and it merits a response from some of wrestling's biggest names, such as Cena and Reigns.

There may be disagreement on this front regarding whether today's business is softer or tougher than previous years, but the mutual respect between stars of yesterday and the present day is evident regardless of opinion.

John Cena discussed his WWE status Monday during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Fallon asked Cena if he would be back in WWE at some point, and while Cena responded affirmatively, he gave no solid timetable for when that might happen (starting at the three-minute mark):

"Right now I'm doing this, I'm filming Peacemaker, and that's gonna take a lot of my time," Cena said. "I can't bounce back and forth due to international restrictions, so at least for the time being, I'm and here and I'm still away from WWE. But I very much look forward to returning as soon as I possibly can."

Cena's Tonight Show appearance came on the heels of an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated in which he discussed not being available for WrestleMania 37 in April because of his acting commitments:

"Currently, I'm in Vancouver shooting Peacemaker, the series for HBO Max. Given the quarantine regulations, if I were to leave Canada, upon return I would have to quarantine for another two weeks. Essentially, that would shut production down. Strictly based on the letter of the law right now, there is no logistical way I can be there. We film now until July."

Cena did take part in WrestleMania last year, as he faced Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Funhouse match. The circumstances were unique, as WrestleMania 36 was held in the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, with no fans in attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That allowed WWE to get creative, as the Firefly Funhouse match was more of a segment and a story than an actual match.

Before that, Cena's last legitimate match was a Fatal 4-Way against Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre and King Corbin on the Jan. 14, 2019, edition of Raw.

Acting has made Cena the very definition of a part-time Superstar in WWE, but fans still expect to see him on the biggest show of the year given his status as a 16-time world champion and the cornerstone of the company for so long.

It is possible Cena is being completely honest about his status for WrestleMania 37, but he could also be throwing a smokescreen out there so fans don't expect him to show up.

That was the case two years ago at WrestleMania 35, as he appeared using his Dr. of Thuganomics persona despite not being announced for the show ahead of time.

WWE would undoubtedly love to have Cena in Tampa, Florida, for WrestleMania 37 in front of a limited number of fans, but his availability hinges on whether breaking away from filming is possible.

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

Many WWE fans were disappointed Sunday night when John Cena failed to make a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble.

Bad news: Cena won't be around at all for WrestleMania season. 

"Currently, I'm in Vancouver shooting Peacemaker, the series for HBO Max," Cena told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. "Given the quarantine regulations, if I were to leave Canada, upon return I would have to quarantine for another two weeks. Essentially, that would shut production down. Strictly based on the letter of the law right now, there is no logistical way I can be there. We film now until July.

"It's very difficult to say because I know it's going to be disappointing for a lot of people, but according to the letter of regulation right now, there is no mathematical way I can be at WrestleMania this year."

Cena hasn't been seen on WWE television since losing to The Fiend in their Firefly Funhouse match at last year's WrestleMania. 

With Cena filming until at least July, it's likely that the soonest we'll see him on WWE programming is SummerSlam. Depending on how the COVID-19 vaccine rollout goes, that could be in time for WWE to allow fans into arenas for shows.

WWE is planning to allow a limited number of fans into Raymond James Stadium for this year's WrestleMania, likely because it's an outdoor venue with better options for fans being spaced out. AEW has regularly had a limited number of fans at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, another outdoor venue.

At age 43, Cena has clearly entered a stage of semi-retirement in the pro wrestling business. He's a successful actor with several ongoing projects; there is little need for him to subject himself to the rigors of a WWE schedule.

However, it feels like a near-certainty that Cena will eventually come back for one final run—potentially to chase his record 17th world championship. When that time comes will be dependent on his schedule in the entertainment business.

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

     

Shane McMahon Wanted to Buy UFC in 2004

On a recent episode of Something to Wrestle With, WWE executive Bruce Prichard revealed that Shane McMahon, son of chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, pushed for WWE to purchase UFC in 2004.

Prichard explained how the negotiations went and why WWE ultimately didn't purchase the promotion (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News):

"Bob Meyrowitz was putting UFC out there in wanting to sell and also looking at ways to change, and, what have you. So, I know that Shane was definitely interested in buying the UFC and during that time, we had meetings with Meyrowitz and Campbell McLaren. I think that, first of all, originally they weren't asking for a whole lot. They weren't asking for a lot, but it was more than Vince was willing to pay at the time, and the overhaul on the UFC that the Fertittas were able to pull off, and Dana White with the overhaul with the rules and the presentation and everything else, was the best thing that could have happened to them. I don't know that we as a company, could have overcome the stigma of WWE owning UFC and been able to make all the changes that UFC needed to make."

UFC ended up exploding in popularity with White at the helm as president, and it is now among the most successful sports leagues in the world.

When UFC was up for sale in 2004, it was struggling to reach the mainstream. At the time, linking up with WWE could have potentially gone a long way in terms of generating interest and getting eyes on the product.

As Prichard mentioned, however, UFC ended up making all the right decisions, and it has exceeded WWE in popularity and mainstream success over the past 17 years.

Shane McMahon is a longtime MMA fan, which is why he was the weekly host of Raw Underground last year until the concept was scrapped.

Raw Underground was very much inspired by MMA, but the concept didn't necessarily work within the realm of professional wrestling.

Had WWE bought UFC, it is possible that they couldn't have both succeeded in the same universe, so perhaps it was for the best that the sale never happened.

      

Triple H Talks Cena at WrestleMania 37

John Cena has not competed inside a WWE ring since last year's WrestleMania 36, but an appearance at WrestleMania 37 in April could potentially be in the cards.

In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, WWE legend and executive Triple H discussed the possibility of Cena partaking in the upcoming show in Tampa, Florida: "I won't put words in John's mouth, but I can speak to his passion, and it's WWE and WrestleMania. Once you do this at a high level, and John does it at the highest, it's very hard to put down. If there is a way for him to be there, he will be there."

Cena wasn't a part of WWE programming leading up to WrestleMania 36, but he still showed up in the weeks before the event to set the stage for a match against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt.

When Cena vs. Wyatt was announced, the plan was for WrestleMania to take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in front of thousands of fans. Instead, the COVID-19 pandemic forced WWE to move WrestleMania to the WWE Performance Center with no fans in attendance.

That allowed WWE to get creative with Cena and Wyatt by making it a Firefly Funhouse Match, which was more of an experience than an actual match.

It would have been difficult to pull that off with fans in attendance, but WWE made the most of the situation and produced a "match" or segment that was widely praised.

This year, plans are in place for fans to be live at Raymond James Stadium, meaning WWE will undoubtedly want as much star power on the card as possible.

Cena is among the most polarizing performers in WWE history, but he is also one of the most popular, and he would add a ton of value to WrestleMania 37.

There is no shortage of potential opponents for him to face, and if he becomes available, WWE will certainly find a spot for Cena on the card.

      

Jericho Responds to Cornette's Criticism

All Elite Wrestling star Chris Jericho took to Twitter on Monday to respond to Jim Cornette's recent criticism of him personally and in the context of professional wrestling.

Jericho took the "killing him with kindness" approach by opting to put a positive spin on the situation:

I’ve been told @TheJimCornette & his sidekick @greatbrianlast continue to brutally bury me for everything I do & say. My response to that is this....have at it! You’re entitled to ur opinions & Im honored to provide content that helps u pay your bills. Best of luck to both of u!

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) January 25, 2021

Cornette has worn many hats in the wrestling business over the past few decades, including manager, announcer and booker. He even owned a wrestling promotion in the 1990s called Smoky Mountain Wrestling, which is where Jericho got his first big break in the United States.

In recent years, Cornette has primarily been in the news due to his Jim Cornette Experience podcast. On the podcast, Cornette displays his unmatched knowledge of wrestling history and also gives his opinions on the current state of wrestling, and many of those opinions are quite controversial.

Cornette is a known detractor of AEW and he has spoken out against Jericho's involvement in the company because of his belief that it cheapens his legacy.

Cornette has also criticized Jericho for making sizable campaign donations to former President Donald Trump. Per Sai Mohan of WrestlingInc, Cornette said: "You [Jericho] are a filthy human being for supporting a filthy disgusting pig. And that's why you get my f--k you. We are no longer friends and will never be friends again."

Jericho hasn't just caught flak from Cornette for some of his recent decisions, including having Donald Trump Jr. on his podcast and performing a concert at the Sturgis motorcycle rally at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some of Jericho's fans are able to put his personal decisions aside in favor of enjoying his work as a pro wrestler, Cornette is clearly in the opposite camp.

    

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