Next week it happens. It's finally happening. Our great saviour John Cena is returning to SmackDown. You'd be lying to yourself if you said you hadn't missed the 15-time World Champion over the past few months.
His star presence alone is entertainment for me. Despite now transitioning into what he once criticised The Rock for becoming, Cena's mainstream career is on the rise and that's nothing but positive news for the WWE. Cena has been severely missed, but he has never shied away from admitting his home will always be the WWE.
As the 15-time World Champion makes his way back to Tuesday nights next week, here are the 5 best feuds for Cena to enter, heading into the new year.
#5 Baron Corbin
As we saw this week on SmackDown, Baron Corbin is destined for great things in the WWE. It's clear that the WWE higher-ups favour him closely, his push is coming in the near future. He is the monster heel that SmackDown has always needed; it's now time for the lone wolf to face the ultimate clean-cut good guy.
Standing at a dizzy 6'8, Corbin stands head & shoulders above his peers, representing a true dark force to be overcome by babyfaces. For his size, Corbin moves at a frightening speed with great agility and power.
Even John Cena would struggle to cope with the big man's strength, which makes fans genuinely believe it's a more than an even match up. This titanic bout could be the launchpad that ejects Baron Corbin into the dizzy heights of the WWE main event scene.
#4 Bray Wyatt
With Randy Orton now a part of the sadistic Wyatt Family, there has never been a better time for John Cena to rekindle his old rivalry with the Wyatt patriarch. When the Eater of World's first targeted Cena back in 2014 as the focus of his mission, we were treated to countless unique segments and incredible matches.
Now that Wyatt is more accomplished as a performer and entertainer, Cena wouldn't have to carry him anymore. Instead, he'd have to try and keep up.
The storyline could play out with Cena taking on Orton & Harper in a series of matches on Tuesdays, just to get a chance to face Bray on a PPV. Several beatdowns would ensue and possibly even a much-wanted heel turn from you know who......
#3 AJ Styles
Some will say 'not again' others will scream, 'YES YES YES'. Whether you want to admit it or not, John Cena – AJ Styles has been one of, if not the best feud of the year in 2016. Providing us with classic matches, electrifying promo segments and shocking finishes.
Cena-Styles has kept the WWE Universe on their toes for the better part of the year, and the feud has the potential to do so still. With rumours running rampant that John Cena is set to win his 16th World Championship in the near future, no one would be more befitting than AJ Styles to take the loss.
After pinning Cena on three different occasions in 2016, it’s about time Styles lost to the 15-time World Champ.
After he successfully defends his Championship in a triple threat match next week on the last SmackDown of the year, Styles should turn his attention to the biggest Superstar in the industry.
#2 The Miz
As one of the greatest WWE Superstars in wrestling history, there's not much the Cenation leader hasn't achieved in his career. A 2x Rumble winner with 12 Wrestlemania appearances, 15 World Championships, US title, reigns, tag team title reigns; there's only one championship left for Cena to conquer, the Intercontinental Championship.
In the year of 2016, the Miz has made the IC title relevant again, and it's time for it to be taken to even greater heights. A feud with Cena would not only continue to elevate the IC title; it would make it the damn main event of the show. A Championship with such an illustrious lineage would only look right, in the hands of the future hall of famer.
When the two last faced up, they created jaw-dropping moments on television that suspended arenas across the world, now they could do it on the A-show SDLive, as they firmly make it the superior of the two brands.
#1 Apollo Crews
It's now or never kid, if you want fans to take your non-existent career seriously, it's time for you to step up to THE man. If there's anyone on the roster that needs a feud with the 15-time World Champion, it's Apollo Crews. After displaying his incredible athletic ability against the Miz this week on SmackDown, many are starting to remember how good the forgotten NXT graduate is.
Despite his non-existent personality, Crews would create an interesting on-screen dynamic with John. Any ring that Cena steps into exudes electricity and if that charisma could rub off on Crews, he could truly become the star he was always destined to be.
Matches filled with athletic ability, strength and electrifying near falls would be produced between these two amazing athletes, and I cannot wait to see them face off.
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