John Cena returned to both Raw and SmackDown earlier this year after spending multiple months away from the ring to concentrate on some acting commitments. Fans assumed that Cena would also be competing in the men’s Royal Rumble match during the pay-per-view of the same name this Sunday night. Cena announced that he would be in the match a few weeks ago, but WWE confirmed earlier this week that Cena would might actually have to miss out on the Rumble due to an “ankle injury.” It has since been reported that John Cena’s injury is completely kayfabe and the company created the injury as a way to write him out of the match. Cena was reportedly never even scheduled to be in the match at all.
The 16-time world champion will likely be leaving to film another movie rather than compete in the Royal Rumble match this year. Why did WWE advertise a Royal Rumble appearance from Cena if he could not be in the match? In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer said that it was all done by WWE to help sell tickets for the show in Chase Field, which is a stadium that can seat over 40,000 fans. The show is currently expected to have around 25-30,000 fans in attendance. The previously announced Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman match was supposedly announced for the same reason, but also never supposed to take place. It was also noted that production on Cena’s new movie doesn’t start until February 4th, so there is a small chance that he could be involved in the Royal Rumble match this Sunday as a surprise entrant.
Bray Wyatt has not appeared on WWE television at all in months. The former WWE Champion has been out of action ever since his tag team partner, Matt Hardy, went down with injuries. Rather than reintroduce Wyatt as a singles star, the company has kept him away while Hardy recovers. However, WWE legend Tatanka just posted a photo with himself and Wyatt which teased that they will both be entering the men’s Royal Rumble match this Sunday. Could Tatanka and Bray Wyatt be involved in the Rumble match as surprise entrants? Matt Hardy was reportedly cleared to return to the ring recently, so it is possible that there may be a Deleters of Worlds reunion during the match, as well as a special guest appearance from Tatanka.
Matter of fact here are 2 ready #Warriors for this Sunday’s @WWE #RoyalRumble @NativeTatanka and @WWEBrayWyatt Both of us have been #HardCore at the gym & ready! Definitely make an awesome Tag-Team! @WWEUniverse #WWE #WWEUniverse #NativeAmerican #Tatanka #Indigenous pic.twitter.com/UwziEY6ozB
— Tatanka (@NativeTatanka) January 24, 2019