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The WWE Universe has been set abuzz by the latest news regarding John Cena and his upcoming appearances for the WWE. Apparently, according to PWInsider, Cena is scheduled to perform at 4 WWE house shows next month (December 26th, 27th, 28th, and 30th).
However, what has really caught the attention of both fans and critics worldwide, is the fact that the company is not advertising him for any appearances on WWE's primary television shows -- Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live.
I've got to confess something here: Over the past few months, I've been quite surprised to see even some of my more experienced friends from the professional wrestling community tell me about their confusion regarding Cena's appearances on house shows and lack thereof on TV!
Today, we take a special look at why the WWE keeps booking Cena this way -- We examine the primary reasons why John Cena is working house shows but not appearing on WWE TV...
#5 John Cena isn't involved in any major ongoing storylines
John Cena made his professional wrestling debut in this very month back in 1999 -- where he wrestled on the indie circuit, debuting on the 5th of November, 1999. Cena eventually started working in the WWE's developmental territories in 2000 and broke through as a major star with his "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick on the WWE's main roster in 2002.
Cena has been the global face of WWE ever since and continues to proudly represent the WWE everywhere. However, over the past few years, particularly since the rise of Roman Reigns in 2015; the vast majority of fans and experts have regarded Reigns as the top guy in WWE rather than Cena.
Cena gradually assumed a part-time schedule in the WWE, and has found great success in Hollywood, especially with movies such as "The Wall" and "Blockers". Well, needless to say, Cena hasn't been involved in any of the WWE's major storylines as of late!
And with that being said, the WWE obviously has an easier time booking Cena in random house show (non-televised) matches, rather than booking him in a few random matches on RAW or SmackDown and then having to alter their TV storylines on the fly! It's very important to note that the WWE is successfully killing two birds with one stone by using this method -- they're giving fans the opportunity to watch Cena wrestle, while also ensuring that he doesn't take the spotlight away from the full-time performers on WWE's TV shows...
#4 John Cena isn't allowed to take too many risky bumps due to his Hollywood contracts
It was on this past October 6th that John Cena last wrestled for the WWE -- in a match where he teamed up with Bobby Lashley, as they defeated the team of Kevin Owens and Elias at WWE Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia.
In the aforementioned match, Lashley took most of the bumps throughout, before eventually tagging in Cena. And here's where things got really interesting...Cena's actual in-ring wrestling lasted only for a few moments, as "Super Cena" hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle, the Attitude Adjustment and his "Sixth Move of Doom" (a Lightning Fist attack) and then pinned Elias.
The professional wrestling world was then rife with talk that Cena's Hollywood contractual obligations, which have him roped in for multiple TV and movie projects, were the biggest reason behind him not taking even a single bump in the match.
I'd like to add that if WWE continues booking Cena in matches where he takes no bumps, that too on TV, the company would experience a huge wave of criticism even from the most loyal WWE fans! However, booking Cena in a house show, where the pressure of performing is nowhere close to that of working in a televised match, would be a much safer option for the company...That way, Cena can wrestle, meet his fans, as well as put on more of a slower-paced match that's wrestled in a safer style...
#3 John Cena is free from his filming duties during the Holidays (Christmas and New Year's Eve week)
As someone who has worked extensively in the entertainment industry, I can attest to the fact that the responsibility of filming content often forces you to work overtime, often times even during the Holiday season, which means that you may miss out on celebrating Christmas and New Year's with your loved ones!
However, in John Cena's case, it seems that he's free from his Hollywood (movie/TV) filming obligations during the Holiday season this year. But Cena, being the workhorse that he is, has now volunteered to wrestle at WWE's upcoming house shows on the 26th, 27th, 28th as well as the 30th of December.
In my estimation, over the next few days, we could perhaps expect the WWE to announce Cena for at least one or two TV tapings (RAW or SmackDown). Don't get your hopes up on him wrestling a full match though!
Cena may perhaps be involved in a promo segment here and there, and end up giving an Attitude Adjustment or two! The episodes that we must keep our eye on is the December 28th, 2018 edition of Monday Night RAW which airs from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan; and the December 29th episode of SmackDown Live that airs from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
#2 John Cena can work his ring rust away before his appearance at the 2019 Royal Rumble PPV
For those who don't really follow the WWE's house show matches, this may come as somewhat of a surprise, but the non-televised house show matchups are actually extremely essential to the performers.
In fact, performers who've been out of action for a long time and have just returned to the wrestling ring, usually wrestle more matches on the house shows rather than on RAW or SmackDown. This is because working the house show matches helps them fight away their ring rust, and get their timing and rhythm back again!
Considering that, the WWE's first "Big 4" PPV of 2019, the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, is presently scheduled to take place at the Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27th -- Cena will likely be involved in the PPV in some capacity, and the WWE having him wrestle at a few house-shows before the 'Rumble is smart booking..
#1 John Cena making rare appearances in WWE, will help boost house show attendance numbers
Firstly, I'd like to clarify that by no means am I suggesting WWE's full-time Superstars aren't drawing enough fans to venues for the company's house shows. In fact, the WWE live events still do decent numbers, despite several top performers such as Alexa Bliss, Kevin Owens, and others being sidelined due to injury issues.
Regardless, we ought to hark back to the old adage here: Distance makes the heart grow fonder. In connection with the same, it isn't really surprising that most members of the WWE Universe have lately been more appreciative of John Cena's charming presence, ever since The Champ has assumed a part-time role as an in-ring performer.
Furthermore, when Cena does appear on the WWE's TV shows as well as at the live events, the man makes it count -- giving it his all inside the squared circle! In a nutshell, Cena's rare appearances in the WWE, particularly at house shows, will beyond the shadow of a doubt, help boost the attendance numbers at said house shows.
Which house show do you plan on attending this December? Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
