In an interview promoting his Super Bowl commercial for Mountain Dew, former WWE star John Cena said to not expect him at this year's WrestleMania in Tampa, Florida.
Cena told Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso that he is in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, filming The Peacemaker, his impending HBO Max TV series that is a spinoff from the upcoming movie, The Suicide Squad. Due to pandemic related travel restrictions, Cena said a Mania appearance wouldn't work as a result.
“Given the quarantine regulations, if I were to leave Canada, upon return I would have to quarantine for another two weeks. Essentially, that would shut production down. Strictly based on the letter of the law right now, there is no logistical way I can be there. We film now until July," he said.
In a later quote, he said, “It’s very difficult to say because I know it’s going to be disappointing for a lot of people, but according to the letter of regulation right now, there is no mathematical way I can be at WrestleMania this year.”
In last week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed a Ringside News report that a Cena appearance was planned for this year's show but he was unsure whether it would be in a match or general appearance. Cena was part of the WWE-produced announcement of the locations for this year's WrestleMania.
If he does not appear at the show, this would be the first time he hasn't been part of a WrestleMania in some form or fashion since he debuted at WrestleMania XX in 2004.
When asked about becoming one of the part-timers that comes back for the biggest show of the year, Cena joked, "What a hypocritical situation. I used to be very open about the fact that part-timers were just that, and here I am at 44 years old and I’ve become what I despise, as they say. That is kind of what it is.”
