We’ve known for a while John Cena would return to WWE for the first time since WrestleMania 33 on the July 4 episode of SmackDown. So when a promo video on the 16 time World champ ran during Raw tonight (June 12), you may not have thought much of it.
But then it ended with a new title for the former Face That Runs The Place...
The one and only @JohnCena RETURNS to #SDLive on the #4thOfJuly at 8/7c on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/Qxz7TAmmZH
— WWE (@WWE) June 13, 2017
“Free Agent” John Cena is in line with a report from PWInsider published earlier today.
That story said there was a “creative pitch” for Cena to be a “free agent” who could go back and forth between Raw and SmackDown, brand split be damned. By teasing a new status weeks before his return, it certainly looks like that’s the direction in which WWE is headed.
While he remains committed to the company, it’s no secret Cena has been far from a full-time wrestler for a while now. With that likely to continue to be the case, and with there said to be internal concern about drooping TV ratings, it makes sense for WWE to use him wherever they can, for however long they can.
Not tying him to Team Red or Team Blue also gives creative some freedom... perhaps to do something like tie this to Roman Reigns’ big SummerSlam announcement?
We’ll have to wait and see what details are provided for Cena’s new status.
While we wait - your thoughts, Cagesiders?