From the WWE Rumor Mill: John Cena to return at Survivor Series as special guest referee

John Cena has been absent from WWE programming since the No Mercy pay-per-view but may have a big role in one of the matches for Survivor Series.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that Cena will serve as the special guest referee in the match between Jinder Mahal and Brock Lesnar.

Survivor Series is being built around the battle of the brands, so having Cena officiate the match would make sense considering his status as a free agent.

With no clear allegiance to Raw or SmackDown, Cena could be considered a relatively neutral party to call the match between the WWE and Universal Champions despite having a history with both men.

Another factor that could explain Cena being the guest referee could be to set up a championship match with Mahal.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported back in April that the plans for WrestleMania 34 are for Reigns and Lesnar to fight for the Universal Championship.

With that in mind and the belief by many fans that Mahal will hold the belt until WrestleMania, this match could be the catalyst for Cena to request a shot for the WWE Championship later on.

Special guest referee matches rarely occur without incidents and confrontations and the Singh brothers were barred from ringside and or Mahal losing could be the series of events that set up an eventual confrontation between the Modern Day Maharaja and the Face that Runs the Place.