WWE superstar John Cena returns to final Smackdown 2022: 3 WrestleMania 39 scenarios possible

WWE has announced that their most cherished superstar of all time, John Cena will, mark his return to the ring in the final episode of Smackdown in 2022. The last episode of Smackdown will take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, US.

• 20 years ago, in 2002, Cena had made his debut against Kurt Angle an episode of Smackdown. At that time, not many would have thought that an underdog wrestler in the locker room would eventually transform into the face of the company in the next few years.

Cena back after six months: This will be the second appearance for the 16-time-WWE Champion in 2022 as Cena had appeared for his 20th anniversary on June 27, 2022.

Since then, Cena has been away from wrestling because of his film committments, television shows, and other things like The Independent on Peacock along with the comedy feature The Bubble on Netflix.

Will Cena wrestle? Cena will make an appearance for sure, but he might not wrestle since he has been out of action for nearly a year; and second, a fight in this episode of Smackdown means that Cena will have to make appearances in further episodes of Smackdown, which look difficult for him looking at his movie committments and tight schedule. 

But the WrestleMania 39 week has already kicked off and given that Cena is the company's big asset, the creative team would definitely bring the former WWE Champion in action next year.

But how?

The three possible scenarios the company can have for Cena: 

1. Cena vs Austin Theory: The company can think of creating a storyline with John Cena with Austin Theory for a final fight at WrestleMania 39, that will take place on April 1-2, 2023 at SoFi stadium, California. Even Austin Theory had expressed his willingness to work with Cena whom he admires a lot.

Triple H, who has taken over as the creative head of the company, would defnitely like to have Cena at the main event like he has brought several wrestlers like Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt back in WWE after they were released by the company.

2. Cena vs Logan Paul: The newest WWE superstar Logan Paul in a recent interview challenged John Cena to a match at WrestleMania 39. Paul, who worked with Roman Reigns for the Crown Jewel event is down with knee injury, but might be able to come back and face Cena at WrestleMania 39. 

A Cena vs Paul match might also work because both of them are not regular performers and since Paul's match against Roman Reigns was a massive success, Triple H might want to throw in a match pitching Cena and Paul against each other. 

Some time ago, John Cena too had posted the photo of Paul from Crown Jewel event, and this left many fans wondering whether the former WWE champion was thinking of working with Paul in the near future. 

3. John Cena's entry in Royal Rumble match: The third scenario could be John Cena entering the Royal Rumble, which will take place early next year; on January 28, 2023 at the Alamodome. The company would definitely need stars in the match to make it a success and since Cena is very popular, his entry into the 30-men-Royal Rumble can turn the main event into a massive success.

Even if Cena doesn't win, the company can set up a Theory vs Cena or Paul vs Cena match at the WrestleMania 39. 

Either way, it is for sure that John Cena will make an appearance at WrestleMania 39 and that too in a match. The Smackdown episode of December 30 will reveal what the company is planning for the mega star.