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John Cena's WWE return may be imminent, especially after he mentioned his plans on coming back in a recent interview. The 16-time world champion will likely be there to welcome the fans back to arenas on the road to SummerSlam.
But how long will his next run last? Will he remain in WWE beyond The Biggest Party of the Summer?
Whether or not he does, Cena is likely to wrestle at WrestleMania 38 as well. If he is to stick around for multiple months at a time, there is a lot he can do to help the stars of today.
We have seen countless instances in the recent past, where John Cena has helped in strengthening a new star. The likes of AJ Styles and Bray Wyatt were given boosts opposite the WWE legend, even if the company failed to sustain momentum in the latter's case.
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Nevertheless, Cena may deliver similar boosts to a couple of current names and turn them into main-event stars, if they weren't already so. While all of them might not happen, at least a few of them should. It could lead to an interesting final few matches for the Cenation Leader.
Here are five WWE Superstars John Cena should put over when he returns, either in his upcoming run or down the line.
#5 Roman Reigns might beat John Cena at WWE SummerSlam
The first and most obvious name on this list is Roman Reigns. The current Universal Champion might defend his belt against John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam. It would be a huge main event, worthy of headlining such a massive event.
And while The Head of the Table has beaten Cena before, it was not as convincing as it would be now. Their match at No Mercy 2017 was decent, but it was hard to get behind Reigns as a babyface at the time. Also, the 16-time world champion completely decimated him on the mic multiple times on RAW.
This time, though, we would see a much more mature Tribal Chief opposite John Cena. He can hang with the Hollywood star on the mic now and there is no way he would lose a promo battle, especially with Paul Heyman by his side.
The match at SummerSlam would be much bigger, and likely better, than the one from four years ago. Roman Reigns is already a made man in WWE, but a victory over John Cena would further his case as one of the most dominant superstars in WWE history.
#4 John Cena could help turn Big E into a main event star in WWE
This one would make sense for John Cena on multiple levels. Big E is a star in the making, and while his push on SmackDown has not gained too much pace, the New Day member is destined to become a main eventer in WWE.
The two-time Intercontinental Champion made his main roster debut by attacking John Cena, back when he was called Big E Langston and worked as Dolph Ziggler's bodyguard. WWE could tell a story based on that or the fact that he set the bench press record in Cena's gym around a decade ago.
This match might not be so hot at the moment but with talk of him moving over to RAW to freshen up the main event scene, Big E could very well be the top star on the Red brand come WrestleMania 38. If that is the case, the 16-time world champion is a perfect opponent for him at The Show of Shows.
A victory over John Cena would do Big E's singles run a world of good. Hopefully, he is elevated to a level where such a match is possible.
#3 John Cena should put Cesaro over six years after their classics on WWE RAW
Back in 2015, John Cena conducted a near-weekly open challenge for his United States Championship. He put the belt on the line against various superstars, a lot of which were elevated. The likes of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were better off after facing Cena, but the best match of this run may have come against Cesaro.
The Swiss Superman took the 16-time world champion to his absolute limit on multiple occasions, coming incredibly close to a stunning victory. After years of relative misuse, he had a similarly heroic performance against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania Backlash.
WWE has to build on this and maintain Cesaro's push, with a roll-up defeat to Seth Rollins somewhat keeping him strong. If booked well, he can be a viable opponent for John Cena at WrestleMania 38.
WWE could base the story on their US Title matches, where Cesaro always came up short. A victory over Cena would send him to the stratosphere, pretty much guaranteeing a future world title reign.
#2 Karrion Kross has teased an eventual showdown with John Cena in WWE
Having teased an eventual showdown with John Cena on social media, Karrion Kross might be on his way to RAW and SmackDown. The current NXT Champion has been dominant on the Black and Gold brand and had a "tryout" match against Shelton Benjamin on Main Event.
Kross looks like a huge star, thanks in no small part to Scarlett's role alongside him. His success in WWE is largely dependent on her remaining a part of the act. If the two stay together on-screen, the sky is the limit for Karrion Kross.
He might even be fast-tracked into a program with John Cena soon after his main roster debut, with the two of them having a cheeky back-and-forth through Instagram posts. The 16-time world champion responded to Kross's claim of being ready to retire him by posting a photo of him on his official Instagram handle.
The NXT Champion followed suit and posted a photo of Cena on his Instagram handle. Karrion Kross could become a star in WWE, with this being a great way to ensure it happens. But will he actually retire John Cena?
#1 Drew McIntyre needs to beat John Cena to ensure he remains one of WWE's biggest stars
While the previous three names would be ready to beat John Cena a few months down the line, Drew McIntyre can do it right now. He has become a star over the past couple of years, earning a monumental Royal Rumble victory and defeating Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 36.
The Scottish Warrior's momentum may have taken a hit in the past few months, but he remains one of the biggest names in WWE today. McIntyre has failed to win back the WWE Championship and his booking has been frustrating, which might see some fans turn on him.
If that is the case, the company should embrace the heat and turn him heel. The risk is a repeat of the negative reactions John Cena got in the early 2010s, as well as Roman Reigns pre-heel turn. Drew McIntyre could solidify himself as a top villain by decimating the 16-time world champion.
If Cena wasn't going to face Reigns at SummerSlam, McIntyre would have been the next best option. He could very well be the Cenation Leader's next opponent, should he stick around. It would cement the Scotsman as a megastar in WWE, following a rough few months putting that in question.
What are you hoping to see from John Cena once he returns to WWE this summer? Who would you like to see him put over before he retires? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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