5 Ways John Cena Could Make His WWE Return

The 40-year-old might be cutting down on his schedule, but he will always have a motivation to return to WWE so long as he is merely tied with Ric Flair as a 16-time world champion.

There is an inevitability about Cena being crowned for a 17th reign - an accomplishment that would cement his place among the industry’s all-time greats and one that would surely be spotlighted at an event the size of WrestleMania or, at the very least, the Royal Rumble.

When we next see Cena on WWE television, WrestleMania season could be in full swing. The heavyweight main event of Universal Champion Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns looks cemented, so a return of this manner would again take him to the land of opportunity.

It would be an impactful return if Cena issued a clear statement of his record-breaking intentions by making a beeline for Jinder Mahal, Shinsuke Nakamura, or whoever holds the WWE Championship at the point. If Mahal is still champion after Hell in a Cell, it is an indication that his push will be maintained until WrestleMania, and could set up the familiar narrative of Cena conquering the foreign invader, on the 'Grandest Stage of Them All'.

The more time he spends away from the ring, the more times Cena will return to WWE, and eventually there will be a focus on breaking Flair’s record. It is just a question of when.