John Cena, known for his prominent WrestleMania appearances, was set to add another bout to his record when he was scheduled to face WWE Superstar Elias at WrestleMania 35 in New Jersey. However, despite plans, this match was canceled, leaving fans wondering about the reasons behind the change.
Cena’s WrestleMania history includes 11 wins and 6 losses, with appearances in nearly every event except WrestleMania 37 and 38 due to his increasing focus on Hollywood. He also missed matches at WrestleMania 19, 32, and 35 under varying circumstances. Elias, who now performs under the name Elijah in TNA, revealed in an interview with Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes that the bout against Cena was indeed planned but never came to fruition.
The Planned Match and Its Background
Elias explained that the spark for his potential match with Cena originated from his rivalry with Seth Rollins over the Intercontinental Championship in mid-2018. The feud created a compelling dynamic and caught the attention of WWE’s chairman, Vince McMahon.
“With Seth, it was the right environment, the right match. It was the Intercontinental Championship. There was a real story there, and sure enough, man. I had that match, and it got people talking, and this was the plan. I can remember Vince McMahon came up to me after that and he said, ‘It didn’t happen at this last WrestleMania, but I want you and John at the next WrestleMania.’ And I said, ‘Yep. Okay, great. There we go.’ I was very excited about that,” Elias said. —Elias, WWE Superstar
Although the match never took place, Cena and Elias shared the ring during a segment at WrestleMania 35, where Cena returned as the Doctor of Thuganomics to attack Elias, known then as The Drifter, marking their second consecutive WrestleMania interaction. Rumors circulated that Cena might have wrestled Lars Sullivan instead, but this never materialized.
Kurt Angle’s Desire for a Farewell Bout with Cena
WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle expressed his frustration about Cena not having a match at WrestleMania 35. On his podcast in 2021, Angle revealed his wish to have his retirement match be against Cena, which would have symbolized a full-circle moment since Cena was his very first WWE opponent.
Despite Angle’s wishes, Vince McMahon chose to have Baron Corbin end Angle’s career. While controversial, this decision aligned with plans to elevate Corbin’s status after his WrestleMania victory. Angle’s retirement match plans with Cena ultimately did not come to pass, leaving a notable “what if” moment in WWE history.
What the Cancellation Signifies for WWE and Cena
The cancellation of the John Cena WrestleMania canceled match against Elias highlights the unpredictable nature of WWE’s event planning and the shifting priorities influenced by storylines and backstage decisions. While Cena continues to balance his wrestling legacy with a growing Hollywood career, moments like these underscore the behind-the-scenes complexities that fans often do not see.
For Elias, the scrapped match nonetheless helped raise his profile through the feud and interactions surrounding WrestleMania 35. For Kurt Angle, the missed opportunity pointed toward an alternative path for his farewell that might have brought greater nostalgia and closure to his storied WWE tenure.
Looking forward, WWE’s dynamic booking and talent management decisions will continue to shape future WrestleMania cards, with surprises and changes likely as the company adapts to evolving narratives and wrestler availability.
