Why John Cena DISAPPEARED After Raw's Netflix Premiere Ahead Of Royal Rumble 2025 (WWE News)
John Cena hasn't been seen in WWE since the 6th January Raw. Here's why.
John Cena has been absent from WWE television since Raw's Netflix premiere (6 January) as he has been filming in Budapest, Hungary.
According to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, Cena has been filming for Matchbox in the Hungarian capital. The movie, produced by Skydance, Apple, and Mattel Films, is based on the toy car brand of the same name, and features the likes of Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, and Teyonah Parris alongside Cena.
Matchbox did not have a release date at the time of writing. There's no word on Cena's role either.
Cena cut a well-received promo on Raw's 6 January Netflix debut. At the start of his retirement year in wrestling, Cena ran through his career - from his early spell as OVW's prototype to the present day - then referenced breaking the record he currently shares with Ric Flair (in WWE canon) and winning a 17th World Championship.
An honest Cena said that he didn't see it happening. After going 2,446 days without a win (not exactly correct there, John...), Cena said he was going to have to go through Money in the Bank, Elimination Chamber, or the Royal Rumble to earn a title shot. He then declared for the Rumble, saying: "I'm not just going to the Royal Rumble, I'm going to win the Royal Rumble."
With this being hast last year in WWE, Cena will likely factor heavily into the promotion's WrestleMania 41 plans. He will be among the favourites to win Saturday's Royal Rumble as his quest for a 17th World Championship forms the basis of at least part of his retirement story. Cena vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has been speculated for 'Mania, for Cody would have to beat Kevin Owens in their Rumble ladder match first.
Cena declared 2025 would be his final as a wrestler last August, telling Collider:
"This is one thing I can give you—I can probably confirm Peacemaker will take us to the end of 2024, and I can say that with the utmost conviction because I have given the calendar year 2025 to WWE. I am retiring in 2025, and I start that farewell tour in January and I'll end it in December. It's gonna be right around 36 dates around the world to pay thanks and gratitude to the WWE audiences around the world. So, that's what I'm doing in 2025."
The 47-year-old will have only used two of those 36 appearances after Royal Rumble 2025, so it's safe to assume fans can expect to see more of him going forward.