Report: Update On John Cena’s Status For Next WWE SmackDown PPV
John Cena missed last night’s first Smackdown exclusive pay-per-view event since the brand extension this past July, Backlash. Cena has not been on WWE television since losing to AJ Styles at SummerSlam.
Although Cena has not been on Smackdown Live since his SummerSlam loss, he has been working Raw live events lately as well as dark match main events for Raw and Smackdown Live. He’s not injured or filming the second season of reality series American Grit, WWE is just apparently choosing not to put Cena on television. The filming for American Grit may be in late October like it was last year.
Smackdown’s next pay-per-view will be No Mercy which takes place on October 9. On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that Cena is scheduled to be back for No Mercy. He also noted that a Cena vs. Styles rematch is planned, but Styles winning the WWE World Title at Backlash may have delayed his rematch with Cena for the time being.
Cena’s Twitter account did send out a couple of tweets in support of Smackdown and Backlash.
History was made last night for #SDLive at #WWEBacklash! See it on-demand, only @WWENetwork. https://t.co/BLZNstMGINpic.twitter.com/0d8ZlN0svk
— John Cena (@JohnCena) September 12, 2016
Also, thank you #RAW for allowing me to be part of history in #WWEShanghai and congrats to @AJStylesOrg#SDLive Title win at #Backlash@WWE
— John Cena (@JohnCena) September 12, 2016
Picture used above is courtesy of WWE.com.