Cena vs Gunther, Mahal, or Riddle: Who will the 16-time world champion face in India?

John Cena isn't just a name; he's an emotion for wrestling fans. Following the departures of The Rock and Stone Cold in the early 2000s, Cena shouldered the responsibility of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and served as the face of the company for almost a decade.

Now, the leader of the Cenation is making his way to India. This news is indeed true! Fox Sports reported that Cena will make his return to SmackDown's edition on September 1 at the Giant Center in Pennsylvania. Additionally, he is scheduled to perform in India at the Superstar Spectacle show at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium on September 8.

Expressing his enthusiasm to perform for his Indian fans, the 46-year-old wrestler took to the X platform (formerly Twitter) to write, "Cannot wait to reunite with the WWE family live on Smackdown. Especially excited to meet the WWE universe in India and wrestle for the first time ever in India. The time is now... C U all very soon."

Cannot wait to reunite with the @WWE family live on #Smackdown! Especially excited to meet the #WWE Universe in India and wrestle for the FIRST TIME EVER in 🇮🇳!
The time is NOW…. C U all VERY soon!!! @WWE @WWEIndia https://t.co/ZtvpIBlgAm

— John Cena (@JohnCena) August 21, 2023

However, the company hasn't yet announced Cena's opponent for the India event. As a part-time wrestler now, Cena's most recent match was at WrestleMania in April. Consequently, he isn't currently involved in any storyline.

Furthermore, the event won't be broadcasted in the US, making it a relatively low-key affair for WWE.

Here are three potential wrestlers Cena could face in India on September 8:

Gunther

Gunther has been enjoying an impressive run in the company. The Austrian wrestler currently holds the Intercontinental Champion title and is arguably one of the best performers in the ring. Since Cena is set to appear on SmackDown on September 1, a storyline where Gunther crosses paths with Cena could be crafted.

The WWE universe would be thrilled, considering Gunther hasn't faced off against Cena since his signing with WWE. A match between Gunther and the 16-time World Champion would undoubtedly ignite the crowd.

Jinder Mahal

Given that Mahal is an Indo-Canadian wrestler, there's a strong likelihood of him facing off against John Cena in India. Mahal is currently part of the RAW roster and is expected to travel to India for the Superstar Spectacle.

Cena previously clashed with Mahal in 2020 on SmackDown, where he won by disqualification. Since then, the two haven't met in the ring.

Matt Riddle

Considering this is a local event not to be televised, a match between Matt Riddle and Cena could be arranged. It would likely be an easy win for Cena, and the match wouldn't extend beyond 10 minutes.

Regardless of the scenario, Cena is anticipated to emerge victorious in front of the Indian audience. This event holds significant importance for WWE, as the company has been striving to organize more events worldwide.

With his substantial fan base, Cena is the ideal superstar to elevate WWE's presence in India.