John Cena is making an appearance during one major event in Tampa this year… but it’s not WrestleMania 37.
Cena spoke with Sports Illustrated and confirmed that he won’t be appearing at WrestleMania this year, claiming there’s “no mathematical way” he can be at the event this year due to filming his new HBO Max series Peacemaker in Vancouver. Cena noted that the shooting schedule and COVID-19 regulations will prevent him from being in Tampa for the event.
“Currently, I’m in Vancouver shooting Peacemaker, the series for HBO Max,” Cena says. “Given the quarantine regulations, if I were to leave Canada, upon return I would have to quarantine for another two weeks. Essentially, that would shut production down. Strictly based on the letter of the law right now, there is no logistical way I can be there. We film now until July.”
If he does not make any type of appearance on this year’s show, this would mark the first time since WrestleMania X8 that Cena was not seen on WWE’s marquee event. (Cena did a rap performance at XIX, and while he didn’t wrestle at WrestleMania 32 or 35, he still made on-air appearances, including his run-in on Elias’ concert at the latter.)
Cena acknowledged the humor in the situation of him “only” returning for WWE’s biggest show, noting that he used to rip on part-timers for the same thing and now he’s doing the same.
“What a hypocritical situation,” Cena joked. “I used to be very open about the fact that part-timers were just that, and here I am at 44 years old and I’ve become what I despise, as they say. That is kind of what it is.”
Despite missing WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Cena will appear during the Super Bowl in a commercial for Mountain Dew. The commercial for the soft drink’s newest flavor, Major Melon, will also mark a contest where one lucky person will win a $1 million prize.
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