John Cena returns to WWE for Friday Night SmackDown appearances

WWE (NYSE: WWE) has announced the return of one of its most beloved stars after a two-year absence from the ring: John Cena, a 16-time world champion, will appear at Friday Night SmackDown on Sept. 1 at The Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and will also appear on Friday Night SmackDown for seven consecutive weeks beginning Sept. 15 through the end of October.

Cena will also appear at the WWE Superstar Spectacle at GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium in India on Sept. 8.

The Stamford-headquartered WWE added that during his U.S. engagements, Cena will partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation will host children and their families at the venues where he will be appearing. Make-a-Wish noted that Cena is the most requested wish granter of all time, having granted more than 650 wishes for children across the globe.

Cena moved away from being a regular presence in WWE”™s spectacles following the 2021 SummerSlam event. He made one-shot guest appearances at WrestleMania 39 in April in Inglewood, California, and at last month”™s Money in the Bank in London, but has mostly focused on his acting career during the past two years. However, with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike shutting down Hollywood productions indefinitely, Cena”™s schedule now enables him to return to the WWE ring.

Photo courtesy of WWE