John Cena.
John Cenais stepping back into the ring for WWE!PEOPLE has learned exclusively that the pro wrestler-turned-actor is set to announce Friday that he is scheduled to return to action in a singles match against Solo Sikoa at WWE’sCrown Jewelpremium live event on Nov. 4.It will be Cena’s first one-on-one matchup sinceWrestleMania 39in April. TheFast Xstar, 46, returned to WWE television in late August and has only appeared in a handful of tag team matchups. Last month, Cena also served as a special guest referee during WWE’sPaybackevent.
In his last singles match atWrestleMania 39, Cena lost to WWE upstart Austin Theory. In recent weeks, the 16-time WWE world champion has also come face-to-face with other young superstars such as Sikoa and Grayson Waller onSmackDown.
Cena is scheduled to address the WWE audience on Friday night’s episode ofSmackDown, which airs live on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET from Milwaukee.
WWE’sCrown Jewelpremium live event — where Cena and Sikoa, 30, will face off — will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and air live on Peacock at 1 p.m. ET next Saturday.
John Cena.Simon James/GC Images
Simon James/GC Images
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Sikoa, whose real name is Joseph Fatu, is a dominant fresh face in WWE and is part of the famed Anoa’i wrestling family, whose lineage includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, and WWE superstars Jimmy and Jey Uso, among other hall of fame wrestlers.
Cena, who is tied with Ric Flair for the most career WWE world championships, never retired from pro wrestling. However, his appearances on WWE television have become more seldom as he began finding more and more success in Hollywood.
Since he began focusing more on acting, the West Newbury, Massachusetts native has landed roles within major film franchises likeFast & FuriousandTransformersas well as the titular role on Max’sPeacemaker. Most recently, Cena appeared as Kenmaid in this summer’sBarbieandVacation Friends 2as well as the newly releasedFreelancewith Alison Brie.
A lifelong pro wrestling fan, Cena told PEOPLE in 2021 that he began to bulk up as a young teenager because of bullying. “My passion for strength was out of self-defense. I used to get picked on a lot because I was different in the way I dressed and expressed myself,” Cena said.
“As you’re an adolescent, social cliques form and I didn’t fall into any one of those. So, I got tired of getting beaten up and I asked my dad for a weight set and he got me one at 13,” he continued. “I started working out and I haven’t stopped since. My quest for strength probably lasted, I don’t know, until my mid-30s. And now I’m on a quest for wellness, which is hopefully so I can continue physical fitness for the next, 30, 40, 50 years of my life.”
Cena has since become one of the most successful pro wrestlers of all-time — as well as one of the most inspirational. Last year, Cenabroke the Guinness World Recordfor wishes granted — a total of 650 — through Make-A-Wish.
“I really enjoy my life,” CenatoldThe Hollywood Reporterat the time. “It is hard work to balance the time I need to run myself correctly. It’s hard work to be the best husband I can be to my loving wife. It is hard to keep connections with those in my life I love and it is also hard to put in an honest day’s work.”
source: people.com
