Set Number: X161332 TK1
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
John Cena’s Farewell Tour Includes International Dates
Two weeks away from the start of John Cena’s final year in WWE, the 16-time world champion is going to be traveling all over the world with the promotion in 2025.
Appearing on the Sports Media Pod with Austin Karp and Mollie Cahillane (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), WWE executive vice president Chris Legentil confirmed Cena will be taking on a full-time traveling schedule that includes international events.
“He’s gonna do a full year-long tour with us. And that’s gonna be worldwide,” Legentil said. “We think that the opportunity for the people to see John Cena one last time all around the world is going to be quite powerful.”
Cena made a cameo appearance at Money in the Bank on July 6 to announce that he would be returning to the ring for an extended run in 2025, but that it would also be his final year as a wrestler.
WWE has already confirmed that Cena’s first appearance will be on the Jan. 6 episode of Raw that marks the show’s debut on Netflix. That show will likely serve as the jumping off point for whatever the plan will be for him going into WrestleMania season.
Even though next year will be the end of Cena’s in-ring career, he’s doing everything possible to make sure fans all over the world will have a chance to see him compete at least one more time before he hangs up his boots.
Big E Still Not Cleared to Return
Despite returning to WWE television on Dec. 2 for the New Day’s 10th anniversary celebration, Big E is not ready to return to the ring.
Appearing on The Mike Broomhead Show (h/t Carrier), Big E confirmed he still hasn’t been medically cleared to compete though he is happy with how his recovery from a broken neck has gone.
“I broke my neck, two and a half years ago, in three places, including my C1 in two places. I still haven’t been cleared,” the former WWE champion said. “Thankfully, I feel great and don’t have any issues, nothing like that. Didn’t need surgery. I was in a hard collar for three months. There are very real risks.”
The injury occurred during a tag match on SmackDown with Big E and Kofi Kingston taking on Sheamus and Ridge Holland on March 11, 2022. Holland grabbed Big E for an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the outside, but the timing was off an Big E landed on his head.
It’s unclear if Big E will ever wrestle again. He revealed during a media scrum prior to SummerSlam 2023 that doctors have told him their recommendation would be that he not wrestle anymore.
E’s appearance with Kingston and Xavier Woods for the New Day’s anniversary resulted in his former partners blaming him for abandoning them before kicking him out of the group.
Charlotte Flair Nearing Return
After rumors about a potential return at Saturday Night’s Main Event didn’t pan out, Charlotte Flair is on the brink of coming back to WWE.
Per PWInsider.com (h/t Carrier), Flair is “on the cusp of officially returning to the ring” with the creative team planning her reintroduction.
The Queen stoked the flames about a comeback earlier this week by posting a picture with NXT star Lainey Reed and thanking her for working with her in the ring.
Flair has been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury during a SmackDown match with Asuka on Dec. 8, 2023. She was diagnosed with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus due to a botched spot on the top turnbuckle that resulted in her knee getting tangled up in the ropes.
The two obvious dates for Flair’s return are the Raw debut on Netflix, which is being loaded up with stars and matches that would normally headline a premium live event, or as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble.
WWE used the latter plan last year with Liv Morgan, who entered the women’s Rumble at No. 30 after missing six months with a shoulder injury.
Flair will almost certainly be put into a key position upon her return. She will also add another top star to the women’s division on SmackDown going into the new year.
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