John Cena made his second appearance as part of his WWE retirement tour at the Royal Rumble, competing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. Although he reached the final two, he was ultimately eliminated by Jey Uso. Now, the fan-favorite star is set to challenge either World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER or Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
Following the event, Cena confirmed that he would compete in next month’s Men’s Elimination Chamber match. If he wins, he will earn the opportunity to challenge the champion that Uso does not select.
According to PWInsider, Cena has already returned to Budapest, Hungary, where he is filming Matchbox, a movie based on the iconic toy brand. As of now, he is not scheduled to appear on WWE programming again until the Elimination Chamber event.
The film, produced by Apple Studios, Skydance Media, and Mattel Films, is described as an "action-packed, globetrotting adventure." While specific plot details remain under wraps, Matchbox follows a group of childhood friends who must work together to prevent an impending worldwide disaster.
Cena leads a cast that includes Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Randeep Hooda, Danai Gurira, and Corey Stoll. Filming began in Budapest in January 2025, with additional production planned in Slovakia and Los Angeles.