John Cena emotionally marks his 20th anniversary with WWE on Monday Night RAW, with pressured Vince McMahon also continuing to be offensive.
20 years to the day after his TV debut, megastar John Cena has returned to WWE.
Cena, who had his first match against Kurt Angle on June 27, 2002, addressed fans on Monday Night RAW, delivering an emotional message – and indirect news about his in-ring future.
WWE stages return of John Cena big
The anniversary comeback of the 45-year-old, who is now primarily a Hollywood actor, was staged in the biggest way possible by WWE, including video messages from fellow celebrity legends and companions such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Trish Stratus and the injured Randy Orton. WWE also sent congratulations from Chris Jericho, “Big Show” Paul Wight and Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan), who has since moved to rival AEW – unthinkable in previous WWE times.
Suspenseful to observe in the context of the current scandal surrounding long-time boss Vince McMahon and the unclear power relations behind the scenes: Interim boss Stephanie McMahon and husband and fellow executive “Triple H” Paul Levesque also came forward via video, while Vince once again showed up on the scene – appearing in good spirits and unperturbed by the fact that hours earlier he had come under new pressure from the public renewal of a 30-year-old rape allegation by ex-ring judge Rita Chatterton.
Vince McMahon continues to show offense
McMahon, who stepped down as boss over a sordid affair with an ex-employee but still helms the creative department, had already put himself on the spot last week in connection with Cena by announcing his return in person (which had actually happened long ago).
Now he gave himself another moment in Cena’s slipstream, moving into the ring to set the stage for him. The control room showed cheering fans, the commentary team conducted by McMahon explicitly highlighted it – as well as that it was “only fitting” that McMahon was now here- to celebrate with Cena.
Also worth noting, though: when Cena himself arrived, McMahon left the stage to him, there was no shared ring moment, Cena wasn’t put on the spot to show up side-by-side with McMahon.
Cena announces no ring return at SummerSlam
As you would expect, Cena did not address the current situation surrounding McMahon, instead limiting himself to thanking the fans.
Alluding to the often divided reactions to him over the years, Cena said that he had always been glad that the WWE fans had been open with him and said when they found that he “sucked”. His relationship with them, he said, is still close to his heart and also shapes what he does outside the ring now.
Cena was not specific about his future in the ring, saying he did not yet know when his next match would be – dampening expectations in many quarters that he could be back in action at SummerSlam in a month’s time. If a match were being planned for there – the young US Champion Theory, with whom there was also a backstage encounter later, was being talked about as an opponent: Cena’s RAW appearance would actually have been the best opportunity to announce it and thus boost hype and ticket sales.
Instead, Cena – last seen in the ring at SummerSlam 2021 against Roman Reigns and on a tour designed around it – stuck to assuring fans he’d wrestle again at some point, spurred fans to cheer once more and eventually left.
Riddle and Becky Lynch punch ticket to Money in the Bank
More major developments on RAW: Riddle and Becky Lynch will be in the mix for Money in the Bank later this week after all.
Riddle – who most recently impressed with a strong in-ring and ratings match against top star Reigns – rebounded from his loss to Omos last week to win a Last Chance Battle Royal earlier in the show.
Lynch also took advantage of a “Last Chance” by winning a six-way battle royal with Xia Li, Nikki ASH, Shayna Baszler, Tamina and Doudrop.