WrestleMania 35: How WWE should book John Cena leading up to WrestleMania

The case of John Cena is a rather curious one as of today, what with the fact that despite having been one of the WWE's best representatives and biggest stars for a better part of the 2000s as well as all through the 2010s, his professional wrestling career seems to have taken a backseat as of late.

Granted that Cena is now 41 years of age, and his blossoming Hollywood career seems to be way less strenuous an option than competing all-year-round in the WWE; however when you talk about a WWE icon like Cena, it'd be nigh impossible for the fans to simply forget "Super Cena's" conspicuous absence from the ring.

Now, with Cena unlikely to appear at Crown Jewel on November 2nd, the general consensus in the professional wrestling community is that The Leader of the Cenation is likely to make his on-screen comeback to the WWE around Survivor Series which takes place on November 18th -- with the company potentially booking him in prominent feuds all the way up to WrestleMania 35 in April of 2019.

Today, we're going to take a special look at how WWE should book John Cena leading up to WrestleMania 35...

#1 Team SmackDown again?

Alright, this may very well be one of the most unpopular angles suggested in our article. Regardless, just hear me out. Survivor Series traditionally witnesses members of both the RAW and SmackDown brands doing battle with one another -- with WWE brand supremacy at stake.

Granted that John Cena is a free agent, and had represented Team SmackDown in their battle against Team RAW at last year's Survivor Series PPV, the fact remains that the blue brand still very much requires the services of Cena this November. Let's face it, with Samoa Joe constantly dealing with injury issues, and the blue brand's over-reliance on Superstars such as AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura; Cena would be a welcome addition to the blue brand's team at Survivor Series.

Logic dictates that the WWE ought to book Cena as a part of Team SmackDown this year as well, which in turn shall serve as a catalyst for his next big feud...

#2 Decent match at TLC 2018

John Cena must be booked to lose the special stipulation match at WWE TLC

WWE's TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) PPV is set to take place at the SAP Center in San Jose, California on December 16th. Considering that TLC is presently scheduled to serve as the final WWE pay-per-view of the 2018 calendar year, the belief is that it may not exactly feature as significant changes in its storylines, as may occur at say a PPV such as Survivor Series or the Royal Rumble.

Getting back to John Cena's role at Survivor Series on November 18th, the WWE could have either Seth Rollins or Elias eliminate Cena from the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Match -- thereby setting up a new rivalry -- John Cena vs. Seth Rollins or John Cena vs. Elias.

Furthermore, Cena could then face either of the two Superstars in a stipulation match -- be it a ladder match, tables match, chairs match or a TLC match for that matter -- at the TLC PPV on December 16th...

#3 The Royal Rumble

John Cena must avenge his TLC loss at the Royal Rumble

Remember the pop Gregory Shane Helms aka The Hurricane got when he entered the Men's Royal Rumble Match in January of 2018, as the 21st Superstar? Well, even if you don't, a rather memorable spot during this year's Royal Rumble Match was John Cena's excellent depiction of shock, hilarity and sportsmanship -- as Cena welcomed The Hurricane like the sportsman he is, only to eliminate the superhero clad in his green suit and cape.

Long story short, Cena has always played an essential role, be it minuscule or huge, at the Royal Rumble PPV events. Speaking of which, this year, the WWE would be better off booking Cena in a singles match -- one that is prominently featured on the Royal Rumble PPV card -- against either Seth Rollins or Elias.

The best case scenario preceding this match would be if Cena loses a ladder match to Rollins or Elias, and then gets his revenge by going over clean in their singles match at the Royal Rumble PPV on January 27th, 2019...

#4 The Elimination Chamber

John Cena must be booked smartly at the 2019 edition of WWE Elimination Chamber

Presently, details on the venue and date for WWE's Elimination Chamber 2019 PPV are yet to be confirmed. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the Elimination Chamber matchup -- both for the men and women respectively -- holds a ton of significance in the WWE's annual lineup of shows.

After going 1-1 against either of the two top Superstars on RAW today -- Seth Rollins or Elias -- John Cena could face either of them at the Elimination Chamber PPV in a singles match. Alternatively, Cena and Rollins/Elias could perhaps be booked as one of the seven Superstars who'll compete in the Men's Elimination Chamber Match -- most desirably with the WWE Universal Championship at stake.

All signs point towards Braun Strowman or Drew McIntyre holding the Universal Title around the time Elimination Chamber comes around, likely in February of 2019 -- And having Cena eliminate the reigning champion, and then get eliminated himself, would serve to enable Cena to enter a new rivalry with either "The Monster Among Men" or "The Scottish Psychopath"...

#5 Fastlane -- Betrayed faster than the speed of light

With a match against Strowman/McIntyre at Fastlane, John Cena would be stabbed in the back by Seth Rollins/Elias

Despite having commenced a new feud with either Braun Strowman or Drew McIntyre, John Cena would be remiss to overlook his former rival, that being either Seth Rollins or Elias, with whom he'd have gone 1-1 at TLC and the Royal Rumble respectively. That naivete is exactly what will allow Rollins/Elias to strike when Cena thinks their feud is already done with!

With that in mind, when Cena faces Strowman or McIntyre in a singles match at WWE's Fastlane PPV in March of 2019, the WWE could have Rollins/Elias cost Cena the match by way of outside interference -- subsequently rekindling the feud with Cena. Bear in mind though, although the Fastlane match would logically end by way of Disqualification, it's extremely important that Cena makes Strowman/McIntyre look strong throughout the match at Fastlane.

Moreover, after being attacked by Rollins/Elias, Cena could then embark on the road to redemption, albeit not in typical Cena fashion, but in a vastly different manner...

#6 Super Cena vs. The Architect/The Drifter

John Cena could put Seth Rollins/Elias over in a big way at WrestleMania 35

Firstly, I'd like to apologize to all John Cena loyalists out there. Now that we've got that out the way, it's a matter of fact that the 16-time world champion eventually needs to put another Superstar over -- said Superstar being someone not named Roman Reigns, considering how Cena already lost clean to Reigns at No Mercy last year.

With Reigns out of the picture, at least for the time being, the WWE eagerly looks for someone to replace The Big Dog as a legitimate, credible threat on RAW. Now, while Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre seem to be the names destined to take Reigns' spot, beating Cena clean could very well propel either Seth Rollins or Elias to the top spot.

An intriguing fact I'd like to note over here is that Strowman and McIntyre have already established themselves as credible threats, and hence, beating Cena clean would be way more beneficial to someone like Rollins or Elias.

What better stage to put Rollins/Elias over than The Grandest Stage Of Them All? John Cena could go to battle with either Rollins or Elias at WrestleMania 35 on April 7th, 2019-- with Rollins/Elias defeating Cena, and resultantly ascending to greater heights in their career.