WrestleMania is always a big event to watch but for John Cena fans, the excitement doesn’t stop there. The 16-time world champion has confirmed his retirement in 2025 along with nine upcoming WWE appearances. The appearances include the annual event “WrestleMania 41” where he will prove his strong connection with the WWE universe.
All these appearances could signal towards a future title reign, potential feuds and Cena’s finals opponents before he hangs up his boots. Let’s breakdown further regarding Cena’s appearances post-WrestleMania 41.
Table of Contents
The 9 Confirmed Appearances
John Cena’s confirmed schedule includes multiple stops across Raw, SmackDown, and WWE’s biggest premium live events. Here’s a detailed breakdown with context:
| Date | Location | Show | Context |
| January 6 | Inglewood, California | WWE Raw (Netflix Debut) | Opened the show, Nostalgic promo celebration |
| February 1 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Royal Rumble | Surprise return and eliminated two superstars |
| March 1 | Toronto, Ontario | Elimination Chamber | As a guest commentator during the main event |
| March 17 | Brussels, Belgium | WWE Raw | Traded barbs with Grayson Waller and hyped WrestleMania 41 event. |
| March 24 | Glasgow, Scotland | WWE Raw | Participated in a “Cena Appreciation Night” segment with returning stars and fans. |
| March 31 | London, England | WWE Raw | Teased a mystery partner for WrestleMania; confronted Judgment Day backstage. |
| April 19 & 20 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Wrestlemania 41 | Main |
| May 30 | Knoxville, Tennessee | WWE SmackDown | Possibly may appear in a tag match with LA Knight vs. Dominik & Balor |
| June 13 | Lexington, Kentucky | WWE SmackDown | career retrospective segment |
| June 20 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | WWE SmackDown | Cena’s final stop of this run; rumored confrontation with Seth Rollins. |
The Cenation leader will appear for 9 shows post the Show of Shows. He will appear for the June 6 episode of SmackDown and Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 25th. Before WrestleMania 41 he showed up on RAW and we can witness his appearance on a few episodes of Smackdown.
Analysis: The Significance of Cena’s Return
Cena’s return with his heel turn could spark new rivalry with top superstars. Recently he announced his appearance for Backlash premier live event and we could expect him at SummerSlam too. The Hollywood star’s heel turn will attract new audience and help WWE to attract fans on Netflix platform. His WrestleMania match is crucial for storyline buildup. Currently we see him in a part time role but still could see him feature in special fight events.
Fan Reaction
John Cena’s announcement has been ablaze with reactions to his schedule. All social media handles are filled with amazing comments and theories regarding the potential next step for Cena. Fans are sharing their theories and speculations on this schedule. Here are some real-time fan reactions:
“Cena back for 9 more shows after Mania?! WWE is cooking something big!”
“John Cena on the Netflix debut of Raw is the smartest move WWE could make.”
“This could lead to Cena vs. a top star at SummerSlam. My money is on Cody or Seth!”
Cena’s Role: Part-Time Legend, Full-Time Dedication
Currently the Peacemaker has appeared on episodes of RAW and Smackdown while balancing his hollywood career too. His commitment for the storyline with Cody Rhodes shows his love and dedication towards the company. Announcing the 9 appearances in his part-time schedule shows his loyalty and love for wrestling.
In recent interviews, Cena talked about his aim towards the WWE generation and stressed that he wants his returns to be meaningful and help the next generation. He further said
“I don’t want to just take up space. If I’m here, I want to contribute.”
Context: Comparing to Recent Schedules and Outside Projects
As compared to his other return, this time we saw Cena appear more in the ring. Nine confirmed dates is the most consistent stretch he’s had in a long time. He is particularly engaged part-time with the WWE and his upcoming projects could interfere with the schedule. As of now, he is scheduled for these appearances, showing his commitment to the WWE.
Ashvinkumar Patil