John Cena

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

Stephanie McMahon Talks The Rock, Rousey

WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon spoke with media Tuesday to promote WrestleMania 37, which will emanate from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, next year:

During the interview, McMahon was asked about several topics, including the possibility of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Ronda Rousey being part of the show.

With regard to The Rock, McMahon said: "We're always talking to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and hoping he's gonna come back. Sometimes it pans out, sometimes it doesn't, but we're always talking. ... The Rock is the perfect example of what happens when WWE and Hollywood come together, so I hope that he'll be a part of it, but I can't promise anything."

The Rock has not had a match since beating Erick Rowan in an impromptu bout at WrestleMania 32 in 2016, but he has made some appearances for WWE since then.

Most recently, The Rock appeared on the debut episode of SmackDown on Fox in October in a segment that saw him and Becky Lynch run down and then beat up King Corbin.

With WWE announcing the signing of The Rock's daughter, Simone Johnson, to a developmental contract this week, perhaps The People's Champion will be even more involved with the company moving forward.

As far as Rousey is concerned, McMahon said: "I know that she's very excited about coming back. I think she has some things in her personal life that she wants to do and when the time is right, she'll be back. I have no doubt about that."

Rousey has been off WWE programming since dropping the Raw Women's Championship to Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat match that also included Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35 last year. That marked the first all-female main event in WWE history.

Prior to that bout, Rousey was a dominant force in WWE, and the former UFC Women's Bantamweight champion helped put women's wrestling on the map even more than it was before.

Rousey suggested that she wanted to take some time away from WWE to start a family, but there have been no updates regarding when she may return. A WWE spokesman did tell TMZ Sports in January 2019 that Rousey is under contract with WWE through April 10, 2001, however.

Since Rousey's close friend, Shayna Baszler, seems likely to challenge Lynch at WrestleMania 36 in April, perhaps that could open the door for Rousey to return either at or after that event.

Cena Talks Upcoming SmackDown Appearance

John Cena responded Wednesday to WWE's announcement that he will appear on the Feb. 28 episode of SmackDown.

Cena cracked a joke regarding the movie The Invisible Man due to his "You can't see me" catchphrase:

Cena's return to SmackDown is huge news since it is set to occur just over one month before WrestleMania 36 takes place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The 42-year-old Cena has primarily been focused on his Hollywood acting career, and he has not had a match for WWE since January 2019. He has made some sporadic appearances, though, including interrupting Elias at WrestleMania 35 and dissing him with a rap.

Cena's impending return has led to plenty of speculation that he will be part of the WrestleMania 36 card in some capacity, although it is unclear who he would face.

Some of the biggest stars on SmackDown include Roman Reigns, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan and King Corbin. Also, Goldberg returned on last week's SmackDown and announced that he would be facing Wyatt for the Universal title at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia, which takes place one day before the Feb. 28 SmackDown.

Depending on the result of that match, perhaps Cena will lay down a challenge to either The Fiend or Goldberg at WrestleMania. While Cena has faced Wyatt before, he has never gone up against The Fiend, and he has never taken on Goldberg either.

If Cena is part of WrestleMania in any capacity it would be a major coup for WWE, especially if he is included in a major match.

Ziggler Answers Fan Question About AEW

WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler was asked about joining AEW during a Twitter Q&A on Tuesday and offered the following response:

Ziggler is known for trolling and having fun on social media, so the "2025" response may merely be his way of getting people talking.

The 39-year-old Ziggler has been under a WWE contract in some capacity since 2004, and he has been a regular on WWE programming since 2008. Even before that, Ziggler had stints on TV as Kerwin White's caddie and a member of The Spirit Squad.

Ziggler has enjoyed a great deal of success during his WWE run as a two-time World Heavyweight champion, six-time Intercontinental champion, two-time United States champion and three-time Tag Team champion.

He has also been given more opportunities to explore outside ventures in recent years, including his comedy career and making appearances on Fox Business Network.

Ziggler will be 44 in 2025, and while it is possible he will still be wrestling at that point, he may be content to expand upon his outside opportunities.

AEW has been successful during its infancy, and if nothing else, it has generated a great deal of interest among wrestling fans in terms of whether certain WWE Superstars may eventually jump ship.

Jon Moxley is the biggest name to do so thus far, and while Ziggler going would be a big deal as well, there is no indication that it is in the cards.

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John Cena is back.

The former WWE superstar will make his return to Smackdown on February 28, according to WWE Backstage:

One of the potential conclusions to be drawn from Tuesday night's announcement is that Cena's SmackDown appearance could lay the groundwork for an appearance at WrestleMania 36 on April 5.

Granted, it's also possible that Cena is simply making a cameo at SmackDown while it's in Boston, close to his hometown of West Newbury, Massachusetts.

Cena only appeared in eight matches in 2019, instead focusing more heavily on an acting and entertainment career outside of wrestling.

"I'm not a regular player," Cena told Jimmy Kimmel in January regarding his wrestling career. "... WWE is still in my heart, I'm still a part of the family, I still keep in touch with a lot of folks, I try to do my best to teach and mentor and help where I can, but, man, I'm 42."

"... I've been proud of the effort I've put forth, and I just want to make sure that I never am in a position where paying customers like yourself look at the effort and go, 'Meh. He's just kinda sticking around because he's greedy,'" he added.

In his heyday, however, Cena was one of the most decorated WWE wrestlers of all time, with 16 world championships to his name.

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

WWE Adds Legacy Simone Johnson

Simone Johnson, the daughter of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, has officially begun training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, the organization announced Monday.

The 18-year-old will try to follow in the footsteps of her father, who was a 10-time world champion, as well as her grandfather, Rocky Johnson, and great-grandfather, Peter Maivia. The latter two are WWE Hall of Famers, while The Rock was one of the biggest superstars in the last few decades before he began a successful film career.

"It means the world to me," Johnson said. "To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy."

Dwayne Johnson was the first-ever third-generation superstar in WWE history, and Simone will be the first fourth-generation superstar.

Fans are already picturing a future main event featuring another legacy:

Johnson first must learn how to compete under head coach Matt Bloom and assistant coach Sara Amato.

WWE Extreme Rules Headed to San Jose

The WWE calendar continues to fill up, as the organization announced WWE Extreme Rules is set for July 19 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, via Joshua Gagnon of Wrestling Inc.

The venue hosted SmackDown on Friday, giving it the perfect spot to make the announcement for the summer pay-per-view.

This event is known for its hardcore matches, which created some notable highlights a year ago in Philadelphia. Brock Lesnar won the WWE Universal Title against Seth Rollins after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract, while Rollins teamed up with Becky Lynch to defeat Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans in a mixed tag match right beforehand.

It's too early to know what storylines will develop this time around with several more major events coming up, including WrestleMania 36 in Tampa, Florida, but the local fans should be in for a treat.

WWE also announced WrestleMania 37 will take place at the new SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Matt Riddle Continues One-Sided Feud with Brock Lesnar

Though Matt Riddle is only beginning his professional wrestling career, he has lofty goals that include ending Brock Lesnar's time in the WWE.

After winning a tag team match at an NXT Live Event in Las Vegas on Saturday, Riddle took the microphone to discuss his long-term goal.

"I guarantee you this, Las Vegas: The Bro retires Brock Lesnar!" Riddle said, per Dustin Holland of Wrestling Inc.

He has been claiming this will happen since at least 2017, when he said he wanted to take down The Beast Incarnate at WrestleMania. 

This continued into WWE Royal Rumble in January, where the two reportedly had a verbal altercation backstage, per Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet. Still, he hasn't been discouraged as he tries to break through in the sport.

"I have never stopped. I kept training. I knew the goal, the dream, was right in front of me and I'm not gonna stop," Riddle told the crowd Saturday. "This is just the beginning. Twelve years ago it started, and 12 years from now I'll still be going."

WrestleMania is known for surprises that leave the WWE Universe in shock, and the 2020 edition of the event is sure to feature several marquee names fans aren't expecting to see.

From the possibility of Sting showing up for one last match to Ronda Rousey making her triumphant return to attack Becky Lynch, the opportunities for surprises at this year's Show of Shows should have hardcore and casual fans alike excited about the pay-per-view.

Here are the best possible surprises for WrestleMania 36.

Sting vs. Undertaker

Despite rumors of WWE Hall of Famer Sting possibly returning to in-ring action for a match at Super ShowDown 2020, the deal reportedly fell through and he will not appear at the show on Feb. 27.

While Sting may not be booked for the pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia, WrestleMania 36 is another story.

If the soon-to-be 61-year-old Superstar is returning to the ring for one last match, it needs to be against The Undertaker. Neither man may be close to his prime, but the aura of the bout would be enough to get fans of all generations interested.

The match doesn't have to be a five-star classic, as most of the allure will be in regard to their elaborate entrances and first-ever face-to-face confrontation.

Add in a five-minute battle that lets Sting go out how he wants, and this would be a marquee addition to the WrestleMania card.

Ronda Rousey Returns to Screw Over Becky Lynch

The WWE Universe is wondering when former Raw women's champion Ronda Rousey will make her return to television, but it may not be until the middle of one of the biggest matches on the WrestleMania card.

Current titleholder Becky Lynch has been dragging Rousey's name through the mud at every turn since she won in last year's main event, and eventually the former UFC star will have to give The Man a receipt.

Lynch has been rumored to be fighting Shayna Baszler for the title at the April 5 PPV, which would set the stage for Rousey's return. With the former UFC combatants being long-time friends and training partners, The Man beating the ex-NXT champion wouldn't go over well with Rowdy.

As Lynch is celebrating her victory at WrestleMania 36, look for Rousey to steal the champion's moment before beating her down and setting the tone for 2020 in the Raw women's division.

John Cena Returns to Build Long-Term Program

Since leaving WWE, John Cena has built his credibility in Hollywood and become a megastar in blockbuster movies. With all of his recent success, the company could use the rub, especially during WrestleMania season.

Just as when The Rock returned at WrestleMania 27 to set the stage for his match against Cena the following year, look for the 16-time champion to come back as a special guest and tease tension with a top Superstar for the 2021 edition of The Showcase of the Immortals.

And look no further than Aleister Black for his opponent.

Cena is smart enough to use his clout to help other Superstars get over, but he also knows it's time to start putting other performers over to build the business for the future. With Black looking for someone to pick a fight with him and The Cenation Leader never one to back down, this is a match made in heaven.

Add in the fact Cena would likely take the loss to the rising star, and Black would be a made man in the eyes of the WWE Universe moving forward.

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John Cena paid WWE Champion Brock Lesnar a massive compliment Friday after watching The Beast's dominant performance in the men's Royal Rumble match Sunday.

In an interview with Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated, Cena raved about Lesnar and his place in WWE history: "I can say with the utmost sincerity that I believe Brock Lesnar is [the] best in-ring performer that I've seen and I know it's an opinion, and if you want a cool quote, here it is: I think he's the best in-ring performer of all time."

Lesnar placed another feather in his cap during the Rumble. He entered at No. 1 and set the all-time record with 13 consecutive eliminations before getting knocked out by eventual winner Drew McIntyre with a Claymore Kick.

Cena called the men's Rumble match and the overall event "absolutely awesome" and gave his thoughts on how Lesnar helped make it so successful:

"I thought his performance at the Rumble was a clinic on how to establish yourself, how to establish those around you, establish the championship, establish the importance of one event. He did so in less than 30 minutes, and I certainly don't have the skill set to do that, and it was awesome to be able to see a masterclass man put on a clinic on what to do and how to do it and I was really impressed with the Rumble."

Cena and Lesnar have locked horns regularly dating back to their time together in the OVW developmental territory in the early 2000s.

Lesnar made Cena his first target when he returned to WWE in 2012 after a lengthy hiatus, and they clashed in several memorable matches. The most remarkable came at SummerSlam 2014 when Lesnar decimated Cena from start to finish, which had never happened to Cena before.

Few have a more intimate knowledge of Lesnar as a performer than Cena, which is one reason why his opinion holds so much weight.

To put a bow on his analysis for Lesnar, Cena added:

"He believes so much in his presence, and he has such a definable presence you can't ignore him and he never wastes anyone's time and everything he does is special and everything he does meaningful and it's not all selfish. He's one of the most giving performers in the WWE and that is the mark of a true craftsman and a true professional."

A portion of the WWE audience tends to criticize Lesnar since he is only a part-time performer, usually has short matches and almost always wins. But those factors set him apart and make him special.

Lesnar is an attraction in every sense of the word, much like Andre the Giant in the 1970s and 1980s. He doesn't wrestle consistently and doesn't always defend his title, but when he does, it has extra meaning.

The Conqueror's involvement in the Royal Rumble gave it more of a big-fight feel than usual. While he tossed out 13 Superstars, he made many of them feel important, and he also helped make a star in McIntyre.

Despite being a dominant force, Lesnar knows when to sell and make his opponent look good—the true hallmark of a great performer.

If he finds the right balance with McIntyre at WrestleMania, then McIntyre could become the next megastar WWE has been searching for.

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Edge Reportedly Signs 3-Year WWE Deal

Edge made his surprise return to the WWE on Sunday night as an entrant in the Royal Rumble. Nearly nine years after he retired from in-ring competition because of a neck injury, he looked in terrific physical condition and didn't appear to have lost a step while delivering his trademark spear.

After the shock wore off, the key question became what the future held for the 46-year-old fan favorite, who won the World Heavyweight Championship seven times and the WWE Championship four times during his initial 15 years with the company.

The answer to those questions is starting to become more clear. Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT reported Edge signed a three-year, $9 million contract that's guaranteed if he takes part in at least three matches per year, though he's tentatively scheduled for five matches and 25 total appearances in 2020.

Although there was speculation Edge, who entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012, also entered discussions with All Elite Wrestling, it appears the wrestling legend used those talks as "leverage" and he "never really wanted to sign" with AEW, per McCarthy.

It's a slight disappointment the Rated-R Superstar likely won't be a fixture on the company's weekly shows, it sounds like he'll be present for all the major events, which provides a nice boost to the roster.

Getting to see Edge take on the likes of Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles, Roman Reigns and the host of other current-era stars should provide some instant classics over the next three years.

Edge and Orton began a storyline during Raw on Monday night that will probably conclude with a high-profile encounter at WrestleMania 36 in April.

Drew McIntyre Discusses "Problem" With Brock Lesnar

McIntyre delivered the best performance of his WWE career en route to winning the Royal Rumble on Sunday night, and now he's in line to face Lesnar at WrestleMania.

The Scottish sensation returned to WWE in April 2017, just under three years after he was released by the company. He's done a terrific job of rebuilding himself into a legitimate option to hold a top title for an extended period, a level he never reached during his first run with the company.

WWE has felt comfortable allowing Lesnar, a massive draw with mainstream appeal, to hold the WWE Championship despite his part-time status. It's fair to wonder whether having a champ who is more active on a week-to-week basis would help the overall product, though.

McIntyre discussed the issue Wednesday on The Bump (via Felix Upton of Ringside News):

"The problem I have is that he has our title and and I've been on all the TVs. All the live events. We need that title on there and someone has to take him down. 99 percent of the time he can beat 99 percent of the guys when he comes back without even trying.

"I know when I looked in his eyes when I was laying on the floor and he's looking down at me. He's thinking, 'This guy's different.' I could see it in his eyes that I'm just as big. I'm just as fast. I've got experience. I've been around for a long time and I see areas in his game I would capitalize on and the guys he's faced and when you use that size and power he better get training before Mania because I've been training every single week for 19 years for this moment."

McIntyre has earned a chance to prove himself as an elite title-holder, but it's unclear whether WWE feels the same way. Fans will find out at WrestleMania.

John Cena Teams Up With Jimmy Fallon In Super Bowl Ad

Cena loves to mess with the internet. His latest troll was posting a Royal Rumble picture on Instagram last week, leading to rumors he'd return for the main event Sunday night. He didn't.

Although the wrestling legend hasn't taken part in a match since January 2019, it sounds like he's going to keep fans guessing about his status for years to come. He said on NBC's Sunday Today in October that he probably won't ever formally retire from the squared circle.

"I will never walk away from the WWE," Cena said, later adding: "I feel great, I'm in the best shape of my life. It's not that I couldn't continue, but I think from this point on I run the risk of tipping that balance the wrong way."

His main focus now is acting, however, and his continued Hollywood rise will be on display during Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday when he's in a Michelob Ultra commercial alongside talk-show host Jimmy Fallon.

"The ethos of the commercial is find something you like and make it enjoyable," Cena told Jason Duaine Hahn of People about the ad. "I think people think of fitness and they think of this unattainable goal of how they look and feel now, compared to how they project themselves to look and feel in the future."

He added: "Do something you like and never give up. You'll get to wherever you want to go, I promise."

Cena is a strong bet to have more WWE matches in the coming years. His role figures to mirror that of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who paved the way for wrestlers to find massive success in Hollywood.

Exactly when and where the Doctor of Thuganomics will pop up next remains a mystery, though.

WWE legend John Cena is synonymous with the much-maligned fashion trend of jorts, but it turns out there was a practical reason why he wore them for so many years.

During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Cena explained the origins of his unique ring gear:

Cena noted that jorts played into his original character of a street-tough brawler and helped set him apart from his peers, but it wasn't the only reason for his choice.

"I chose denim because you don't blow the crotch out of denim," Cena said. "I tried cargo pants, and in front of the world a few times ... here I am trying to put my life on the line with the Superstars I'm having a match with, and everyone's just looking at my d--k. So denim's a safe play."

Whatever the rationale, jorts did Cena well, as his 16 world title reigns are tied for the most all time with WWE Hall of Famer "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

The 42-year-old Cena is primarily focused on his burgeoning career in Hollywood these days, but becoming one of the most recognizable figures in WWE history on a level similar to Hulk Hogan, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin played a significant role in the success he is enjoying now.

Cena still makes sporadic appearances in WWE, including reprising his Dr. of Thuganomics character last year at WrestleMania, complete with jorts.

It has been months since Cena last showed up on WWE programming, but he suggested in November that he plans to be in attendance for WrestleMania 36 in Tampa, Florida, this April, which means the jorts could be back in action once again.

Cena claimed in the interview with Corden that jorts are making a comeback, and while there may not be many in favor of the 1990s fad returning to the forefront, many wrestling fans would love seeing Cena back in the middle of a WWE ring.

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