No star on the WWE roster creates more anticipation with his every appearance than John Cena, the face of the company for over a decade now. Due to his rising mainstream popularity, Cena has been away from the product since WrestleMania 33, building excitement for what he could do next once he returns.
On July 4, Cena will make his TV return to SmackDown Live; however, WWE has also announced he is a free agent going forward, allowed to appear on both brands. As Cena takes this time off, the roster constantly changes with more top stars on both brands than ever before ready to face off with The Face That Runs the Place for the first time.
Strowman has recently had great matches with Big Show, Reigns and Sami Zayn, but he is still fresh to the main event scene. Cena would be another challenge, helping showcase Strowman as a dominant force.
Cena’s strength has always been well documented, and it would make him one of the rare performers that could match up to Strowman blow for blow.
Nakamura has not always worked at his best in WWE, but he has a proven track record outside of the company for quality bouts on the biggest stages. If there is one match that will get Nakamura working at 100 percent, it would be a bout with Cena. Cena has never faced an opponent like Nakamura, but he has rarely failed to adapt to anyone he is in the ring with.
This may be the hardest story to tell with both men faces right now, but Cena and Nakamura’s real respect for one another could be the driving force. Nakamura once challenged Finn Balor, Mr. NXT, to prove he was worthy of a NXT Championship shot. He may feel the need to challenge Mr. WWE before he gets his first WWE Championship opportunity.
Reigns has an impressive track record in the ring and works the type of fast and hard-hitting style that has always brought out the best in Cena. It would be surprising if the first time these two battled it was not a match-of-the-year contender, especially with the time it will be given to deliver.
Reigns and Cena have been building this feud for years already with jabs at one another on social media. Cena has repeatedly challenged anyone in the New Era to step up and prove themselves against him, while Reigns has claimed the WWE as his yard without ever going through the best in the business. Even if the two are both faces, this rivalry would be heated from the first time the two locked eyes.
