John Cena will be a 'free agent' when he returns to WWE TV

[Big Red Machine]

Source: www.F4WOnline.com

By Joseph Currier | @josephcurrier | Jun 13, 2017 9:27 am


When John Cena returns to WWE television next month, he'll be doing so with a storyline that he's a "free agent."

A video hyping Cena's return on the July 4th episode of SmackDown aired during Raw last night, with it saying that "Free agent John Cena returns to SmackDown Live." It had been revealed previously that he would be returning on that date, though nothing about him being a free agent was mentioned then.

What that actually means quickly became a question. And people naturally wondered if it was related to the announcement that Roman Reigns will be making on Raw next week about his plans for SummerSlam.

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez briefly discussed the matter on last night's edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, and Meltzer noted that he was told that Cena won't be Reigns' opponent at SummerSlam. The idea is apparently for Cena to be able to appear on both Raw and SmackDown even if it goes against the brand split because he's one of the only draws that WWE has.

Cena has been absent from WWE TV since WrestleMania 33 due to taking time off to work on film projects. The July 4th episode of SmackDown that he's returning on will take place at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

[Big Red Machine]

So Cena just gets to be a free agent and show up on both shows? Well doesn't that make Swagger and Miz and anyone else who had to "renegotiate his/her contract" look like an idiot? Or anyone who was called up from NXT?

[KILLdozer]

Oh what a load of crap as always.

[KILLdozer]

Number one, how does one even suddenly BECOME a free agent? His "contract" was only like 3 or 4 months?

Second, yeah, Cena is STILL, ALL they have.

What the hell ever!

[Big Red Machine]

Number one, how does one even suddenly BECOME a free agent? His "contract" was only like 3 or 4 months?

I guess theoretically this is when his kayfabe contract happens to be up.

[cero2k]

I think this will directly correlate with Roman Reign's announcement

[KILLdozer]

Number one, how does one even suddenly BECOME a free agent? His "contract" was only like 3 or 4 months?

I guess theoretically this is when his kayfabe contract happens to be up.

Like I said...

[Serujuunin]

How about, instead of bringing back a man who is already built up, they built up their newer superstars properly?

I know, wishful thinking. But still...

[Big Red Machine]

How about, instead of bringing back a man who is already built up, they built up their newer superstars properly?

I know, wishful thinking. But still...

The more I think about this, the more revealing of their mindset it is. The Brand Split should be an opportunity to build up new guys to top spots because you now need two sets of top guy, which is aided by the fact restricting who can appear on which shows opens up spots on both shows because you've now got the same amount of time to fill but with half of the roster.
In WWE's mind, though, the Brand Split is merely about making people watch both shows, so they'll do whatever it takes to do that, no matter how silly it is for one guy to be allowed to work both shows because all they care about is viewer numbers rather than the long-term health of the company.