The announcement regarding the return of John Cena on the last episode of SmackDown on December 30th, 2022 has met with enormous enthusiasm from fans. The sixteen-time WWE Champion dedicated two decades to entertaining the fans. In the late 2000s, as the Ruthless Aggression Era came to a close, Cena was one of the few top stars in the company. His influence in both Ruthless Aggression and PG eras has been profound. Many fans have grown up watching the evolution of Cena’s character on TV.
For months, news about John Cena’s WrestleMania return has been causing waves on the internet. Besides being a larger-than-life character in wrestling, he is now a full-time movie star. Which explains his sporadic appearance on WWE TV.
At 45, John Cena has nothing left to accomplish in the ring. However, his return could help up-and-coming superstars make a name for themselves.
Fans react to John Cena’s return on the final episode of SmackDown in 2022
Earlier this year, John Cena returned to WWE in late June to celebrate his 20th anniversary with the company. The leader of the Cenation even cut a promo with Austin Theory backstage. This led to fans speculating about a possible match with the 25-year-old.
There is excitement among the fans to see the return of the superstar. However, some fans also expressed their candor and criticism. Especially, alluding to WWE’s reliance on Part-timers.
During his stint in WWE, John Cena was one of the most polarizing superstars ever who was loved and hated at the same time. Fans who find themselves in the latter category are not very thrilled with his announced return.
However, on the other hand, some fans are booking tickets to witness his return. Although John Cena is now a part-timer, some fans forget the years of backbreaking work Cena has done to get to this juncture in his career.
BREAKING: John Cena will appear on the final WWE #SmackDown of 2022 (Variety) 🚨🚨🚨
The final SmackDown of the year on December 30th which will take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.
LFG! pic.twitter.com/gs2GFzBgpI
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 9, 2022
Record still intact pic.twitter.com/IgxgG3ch9e
— Gebreal (@LFC19Champions) December 9, 2022
I hate social media 😔 this would’ve been FIREEE if we didn’t know smh
— Chris Falcon ⛓🔥⛓ (@ThrashBrawler) December 9, 2022
LET’S GO , THE LEGEND IS COMING BACK pic.twitter.com/9jZM9fO6HQ
— Pablo the Wrestling Duck (@Pablotheduck084) December 9, 2022
MY GOAT pic.twitter.com/ynRUVZHgey
— King Jon 👑 (@KingJon__) December 9, 2022
LET’S GOOOOO!!!
I ALREADY BOUGHT TICKETS FOR ME AND MY BROTHER 2 MONTHS AGO!!!!
THIS SMACKDOWN IS GONNA BE AMAZING!!!
BRAY, THE USOS, AND CENA!!!! pic.twitter.com/DBVZLSeNRS
— 「4say10」 (@ShizzelDTF) December 9, 2022
Hopefully he gets booked properly, when was the last time cena actually won a bout?
— Out of Context Group 🌇 🔺 (@OutofContextGRP) December 9, 2022
Hopefully he has a match so his 22 or whatever year streak continues
— IceBlueBuggsy-JAL (@Iceakanayef) December 9, 2022
Just don’t bury him to anyone, guy deserves one last (hopefully world) title run. Doesn’t need to b putting guys like theory over
— Joshua Gibson (@JoshuaGibson88) December 9, 2022
IM GOING TO THAT SMACKDOWN YESS
— ❌ Isaac Orton 🖤 (@IsaacOrton_) December 9, 2022
The GOAT is coming home!!!
— Hayden from north carolina (@johncenafan61) December 9, 2022
I can’t believe I’m saying this but i miss john Cena. I’m freaking excited!! pic.twitter.com/sonAS1PS8q
— Derek (@DerekJ789) December 9, 2022
I’ll reckon he’ll have a quick match to not break his record
— The_Powder_Keg (@PW_Saviour) December 9, 2022
Awww, guess he stepped away from loving on China and the way run their country long enough to rally some more income here https://t.co/YGrLna6fnj
— Candilea (@Candilea1) December 10, 2022
Awesome. He needs to wrestle so he won’t end 2022 without having a match. https://t.co/p8IYQUDLyo
— Darren Bongiovanni (@hbkid718) December 9, 2022
Not needed! https://t.co/DaQ70tJI1C
— Middie Smalls (@iAmLegendGary) December 9, 2022
he needs to have a match or else 2022 would be the first calendar year since his debut he hasn’t had a match https://t.co/0q5Al1cdK0
— ˢᵠᵘᶦⁿᵗᶻ (-_•) (@YaBoiSquintz) December 9, 2022
So the guy who complained about part timers and actors, who is now a part timer and an actor, is gonna show up to the place he abandoned.
I’ll grab the “welcome home cheater” bedsheet
— 🎄Goji🎄 (@Goji_go_boom) December 9, 2022
John cena coming back is problem with wrestling today living off the past instead of building new stars for the future
— Young Star (@ystaent2k11) December 10, 2022
Who cares he’s coming back for literally one day then gone for another 2 years
— Demi (@DemiGodTheKing) December 10, 2022
Why? Because his movies are awful to watch?
— Bardslayer (@BardSlayerNFT) December 10, 2022
Yes
Just for one match or to announce that i am not coming back because of Hollywood movies.— Sheikh Haseeb (@SheikhHaseeb30) December 10, 2022
Let the old man retire already
— Jojo Qazi (@Jojo_Qazi) December 10, 2022
We don’t need him. He can go away!
— Sarah G (@OrcaDiva80) December 10, 2022
No one cares, he still suck
— Boodrow Jackson (@micheal20318119) December 10, 2022
John Cena may miss WrestleMania 39 because of his movie schedule
On an edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that John Cena is likelier to miss WrestleMania 39 as he is deeply involved in his next movie project with Zac Efron. The project will require him to be present at the set throughout February and March.
The movie entitled “Ricky Stanicky” is an upcoming comedy movie which will be filmed in Australia. It remains to be seen if John Cena takes time out from his movie schedule, puts his wrestling gear on, and makes his presence felt at WrestleMania 39.
Zac Efron & John Cena will be ditching Hollywood and heading to Melbourne early next year for a comedy movie, Ricky Stanicky.
READ MORE: https://t.co/ebqMDJV8QO#TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/k7PVhrAXr0
— The Project (@theprojecttv) December 9, 2022
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