John Cena will return to WWE on the February 28 episode of Smackdown.
The 16-time world champion has been busy for the past couple of years, carving a niche for himself in Hollywood: first as a supporting player in movies like Blockers (2018) and Bumblebee (2018). But Cena might finally cement his action star bonafides as Jakob Toretto, brother of Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto in F9: Fast and Furious 9, due out on May 22.
But unlike The Rock, who's largely escaped his wrestling past, Cena seems like a WWE-lifer; he'll always have one foot in the wrestling business, even for a brief cameo or ambassador role. And it's extremely likely that on February 28, John Cena will begin a storyline feud that will lead directly into Wrestlemania 36.
The last time John Cena competed at Wrestlemania was in 2018, when he faced The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 34. That match was a squash in the Undertaker's favor, meant to re-elevate the Dead Man's status after his below-average performance against Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 33.
Which WWE Superstar would benefit the most from a high-profile match against the Doctor of Thuganomics? Could it be an established Hall of Famer, a current titleholder, or a champion-to-be, right on the cusp of greatness? Here are 5 likely opponents for John Cena at Wrestlemania 36.
Elias
The obvious, most conventional choice is also the most likely choice. Elias has plenty of unsettled Mania business with Cena. Cena laid Elias out at Wrestlemania 34 in the leadup to his match against the Undertaker. Cena laid out Elias again at Wrestlemania 35, and also dropped a freestyle diss in his rapper persona. Elias' folk singer gimmick would be a perfect way to build up this feud, and it would give Cena even more opportunities to indulge in his rapper gimmick. No doubt, Elias would lose the Mania match. But if he hangs tough, it could also raise his profile; we currently see him more outside the ring than inside it.
Baron Corbin
It's been a slow roll. But Baron Corbin is finally coming into his own as one of the best pure heels on the WWE roster: an arrogant jackass who is genuinely booed for being bad. And his latest King of the Ring inspired "King Corbin" gimmick (his furs make him look like a disinherited Northerner from Game of Thrones) has only reinforced his positive (read: negative) qualities. He's also got unfinished business with Cena, who cost him the Money in the Bank briefcase back in 2017.
Keith Lee
This is a longshot pick. But NXT star Keith Lee would be ideal as Cena's Wrestlemania opponent. Coming off the heels of a star-building match against Dominik Dijakovic at NXT Takeover: Portland on February 16, the North American Champion has more than earned a marquee spot at Wrestlemania.
Keith Lee is massive and agile. He's got that everyman appeal, and he's completely over with the audience as a legitimate threat. But he needs some additional, high-profile wins to write his ticket to the main roster. How about a win over a 16-time world champion? It would take some daring booking to pull this, but Keith Lee is the inspired, right choice.
Goldberg
Here's your classic veteran-versus-veteran, legend-versus-legend marquee match, featuring a WCW mainstay against a WWE top player. No, there isn't a lot of narrative reason for these two to fight one another. And yes, it would mostly be two aged guys spamming their signature and finishing moves at each other.
But the purpose of Wrestlemania is to appeal to the mainstream, casual fan. And there isn't a wrestling fan alive who hasn't heard of Goldberg. Star power alone could make this match happen, even if the diehard fans wish it didn't.
"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
And lastly, here's another longshot possibility: what if WWE decides to crown John Cena as the greatest WWE Superstar of all time? What if the writers decide to make Cena a 17-time world champion, breaking Ric Flair's long-standing record? They could do it at Wrestlemania 36 if they pit Cena against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt.
As the current WWE Champion, Wyatt has been portrayed as near immortal in his current incarnation, surviving chair shots, electrocution, and more, like a tattooed Michael Myers-esque zombie. It sounds exactly like the sort of late-'00s, triumph-against-all-odds obstacle that Cena would habitually overcome in his prime.
Of course, this would mean that Wyatt would lose at Wrestlemania, again, continuing a career-long losing streak at the biggest pay-per-view. But WWE has always been about the big payoffs and the manufacture of massive, highlight reel-worthy "Wrestlemania moments." Cena celebrating his 17th world title, with confetti falling from the sky and fireworks going off in the background, would certainly qualify as one of those moments.
