WWE: John Cena Confirms He Will Not Be Wrestling At WrestleMania 32
World Wrestling Entertainment held a WrestleMania 33 press conference this morning in Orlando, Florida. Along with Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, The New Day and many others, John Cena was present and spoke at today’s press conference.
While Cena discussed what WrestleMania returning to Orlando and the Citrus Bowl next year means, he also gave an update on his WrestleMania 32 status. Although he’s been working very hard and trying to get healthy in time, he admitted that he will not be ready to compete at this year’s WrestleMania. Cena said that this will be the “first time in a decade and a half” that he’ll miss a WrestleMania.
When the news broke in early January that Cena would be undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that he would be missing this year’s WrestleMania. However, through his social media accounts, he has been pushing the fact that he’s recovering quickly and was not totally ruling out a match at WrestleMania 32. This was Cena’s most recent tweet that fueled speculation.
People can advise you what "they" think is best. This above all: to thine own self be true. pic.twitter.com/dpWi9yxMB5
— John Cena (@JohnCena) March 1, 2016
It would have been unrealistic for Cena to recover in time for WrestleMania, but he has come back from injuries months ahead of schedule in the past; so the possibility was still out there. These comments from Cena seem to put that idea to rest.
Even though he’ll miss WrestleMania, he’ll likely return to action in May or June.
Cena’s first WrestleMania was WrestleMania XIX where he appeared in a non-wrestling role, dissing Jay-Z and Fabolous for not accepting his challenge to a rap battle. Cena’s first WrestleMania match was at WrestleMania XX where he defeated Big Show for the United States Championship.
Mark’s reaction: I was initially never expecting Cena to wrestle at Mania this year, however, his tweets as of late started making me wonder. I thought, if anything, maybe he’d have a quick 3-minute match where he surprises everyone at Mania. However, now we know that is definitely not happening.
The original plans for Cena at this year’s Mania was to face The Undertaker in a Legend vs. Legend match that would headline the event. Vince McMahon was reportedly crushed when he found out Cena would not be healthy in time and they had to do away with the plans.
It’s going to feel a little weird not seeing Cena in a wrestling role at the “Show of Shows,” but hopefully others can now step-up and prove that they can hold their own on the grandest stage of the all.
Picture used above is courtesy of WWE.com.