As noted in a report on Saturday, John Cena stated in an interview that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could redeem himself with wrestling fans if he wrestles him next year at WrestleMania 26. Cena added, “It’s not that I don’t think he’ll accept the challenge; he truly has a full plate. I think our fans would like to see him come back to the ring. Dwayne Johnson or the Rock or whatever he wants call himself vs. John Cena. Let’s say ‘WrestleMania XXVI.'”
The general opinion is that Cena is trying to create something that quite frankly isn’t there to begin with and is simply making media buzz. Had Cena and Johnson actually agreed to do something prior, it would have made sense and everything would be cool. However, the two have not agreed to anything and at this point it is being largely considered a grandstand challenge where the person making the challenge has to know it won’t be accepted (similar to the challenge made by BG and Kip James in TNA as the “Voodoo Kin Mafia” to Shawn Michaels and Triple H back in 2006 and how bad it ended up making TNA look in the end).
There is a feeling or even hope in WWE that Johnson will end up agreeing to do a comeback match by working the respective publicity on his side of things. It should be noted that before people either look positively or negatively on Cena’s comments, he has been described as a soldier for WWE and how he was simply following orders when it came to issuing the challenge. So basically if it works then Vince McMahon was able to pull off a huge deal, but if nothing happens (and it doesn’t appear at this point that anything will) you run the risk of having your top guy in Cena coming off as a second rate guy begging for a big match that won’t happen.
Had Cena and Johnson made a private agreement, well, you wouldn’t have known it considering the two had zero interaction together at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards this past weekend hosted by Johnson that also featured Cena as a presenter. Johnson has commented on the situation adding, “I?ve seen and heard all the things he’s been saying about me in the press. It’s honestly laughable and baffling at the same time.”