For the first time since 2001, John Cena did not have a WWE pay-per-view match in 2019. Cena also saw his streak of 15 straight WrestleMania matches snapped in 2019, though he did appear at the event.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cena discussed his pay-per-view streak being broken and his current status in WWE.
"This is the first time in 15 years, maybe more, that I haven't been on a WWE scheduled pay-per-view," he said. "This is the first big transition. I've officially moved...I'm not a regular player. WWE is still in my heart, I'm still apart of the family, I still keep in touch with a lot of folks and I try my best to teach, help, and mentor when I can, but I'm 42. I've been proud of the effort I put forth and I wanna make sure that I'm never in a position where paying customers look at the effort and go, 'Meh, he's kinda just sticking around because he's greedy.'"
With WrestleMania 36 around the corner, rumors will undoubtedly pop up about Cena's status. When asked if he can just call up WWE and get a spot on the show, Cena says he prefers for them to make the call to him.
"I always like for them to give me ideas and then me making it my own. We have WrestleMania around the corner and it happens to be in Tampa, where I live. I'll be in the neighborhood. But it's not like I call someone up and be like, 'I wanna be in WrestleMania.' Those spots are very coveted. There are performers who work all year, 250 shows a year, to earn those spots. I would love to earn one of those. And the way you do that is by Vince McMahon calling you up and he says, 'Hey pal, I'd like you to do this.' Then I say, 'Yes sir' and put my own spin on it," he said.
Cena is currently filming "Suicide Squad," but noted that filming should be wrapped up by the time WrestleMania rolls around. He appeared on last year's show, returning as the Doctor of Thuganomics and confronting Elias.
If you use any of the quotes above, please give a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
