John Cena's WWE Payback Hosting Announcement Shakes Up SmackDown

Story By Joe Frank

Image credit: getty images Sep 02 2023

John Cena has been announced as the host for WWE Payback this weekend and it came as surprise for many.

[{"selector":"#anim-79793d05-8bfe-4485-b7b5-8429de6be196","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Cena, made his return on SmackDown due to the ongoing actors strike, as he is not having any big-screen projects.

[{"selector":"#anim-a461853f-4aa4-431e-a7b8-3385f418b497","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

During Friday night, Cena confirmed that he will have a significant role in the upcoming premium live event, WWE Payback.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ace4afd-5862-480e-85d7-a95527b365d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Cena expressed his gratitude towards the fans for their unwavering support over the years.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d4c5c99-c15c-4fb0-b965-cdea1532d126","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Cena thanked his fans for the opportunity to wrestle in India for the first time and to return to his WWE family.

[{"selector":"#anim-90662a13-41a6-4324-8b2b-5557c97097bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

His return to SmackDown is expected to last for several months, with dates announced for the next eight weeks.

[{"selector":"#anim-661b6142-6534-4985-bb1b-68330c38751a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Jimmy Uso interrupted Cena's announcement and claimed that Cena is similar to Roman Reigns in that he "takes" from others.

[{"selector":"#anim-47169445-4295-4382-8dca-43c4fe1f06d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Jimmy Uso attempted to attack Cena with a superkick, but Cena countered with an Attitude Adjustment.

[{"selector":"#anim-ac0ac345-5172-475d-8073-531ccab923b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Cena's return and the altercation with Jimmy Uso may set the stage for an intriguing storyline in WWE.

[{"selector":"#anim-a2328af8-276f-4b07-87b1-5d5276ae9d20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Cena as the host, is highly anticipated by wrestling fans and marks his return to active involvement in WWE programming.

[{"selector":"#anim-d3de2280-02b4-4fdf-a62d-8452b9d6b266","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit: getty images

Next story: "Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry’s First Solo Single ‘Are You Awake?’"

[{"selector":"#anim-53fc27d8-e144-45d6-8e06-78782a2a9f31","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b34bff2-79e4-457d-8309-f51e8364114c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 407.01178%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Thank you for Reading the story Read Here