WWE News: John Cena shoots down reports that he asked for his WrestleMania opponent

What's the story?

John Cena has been rumored to be facing The Undertaker over the past few months, but with the news that Rey Mysterio was signing a new WWE contract and wrestling at this year's Showcase of the Immortals, it was reported that Cena had asked to face Mysterio, but this isn't the case.

In case you didn't know...

We are now just a month away from WrestleMania and John Cena still doesn't have an official opponent. There are reports that The Undertaker may not be able to return which is why Mysterio was brought in his place, but it seems that his recent bicep injury could have ruined this back up plan as well.

Cena has been part of ever WrestleMania for more than two decades, with WrestleMania 32 being the only show he didn't wrestle on, but he still appeared to join forces with The Rock against The Wyatt Family.

The heart of the matter

John Cena recently spoke to Sports Illustrated and the topic of his WrestleMania opponent was raised and the former World Champion was finally able to set the record straight.

“I have never asked for a WrestleMania opponent, if you look at what I’ve done in my WrestleMania entirety, from coming out at Safeco Field in a sweat suit rapping to two cardboard cutouts, to working with established superstars to working with rookies, to being fortunate enough to use the platform to ask a beautiful young lady to marry me. A lot of our performers get frustrated and ask, ‘What can you do for me?’ I just ask, ‘What can I do for you?’ They tell me, and I do it to the best of my ability. Even if it’s no one.”

Cena also spoke about Rey Mysterio but only to complement the former World Champion since it seems that he wasn't allowed to say a lot on the subject.

“Rey Mysterio is great,” I’ll say that, and that’s what I can say about Rey.”

What's next?

John Cena fights for the WWE Championship at Fastlane on Sunday night where he could become a record-setting 17-time World Champion. Cena believes that being WWE Champion is the only way to guarantee himself a match at this year's WrestleMania.

Author's take

He's John Cena, does anyone really believe that he won't be part of this year's WrestleMania? WWE wouldn't allow Cena to be at ringside forced to buy a ticket, whilst it's an interesting storyline, it isn't believable, it's obvious that Cena already has WrestleMania plans and these will probably be put into action in the weeks following Fastlane.

It's unlikely that Mysterio was ever the plan for Cena but it has got the WWE Universe talking, which was probably the entire point.