Warming up for the main event of WrestleMania 28 were Dwayne Johnson and John Cena.
The rivalry between Dwayne Johnson and John Cena began in 2011 when The Rock made his WWE comeback to host WrestleMania 27 following a seven-year absence. During the event, Johnson made fun of Cena and his signature line, “You Can’t See Me.” Later, Cena made offensive comments in response, which caused the two to schedule a main event match for WrestleMania 28, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Cena also initiated a rivalry with CM Punk during this time.
At WrestleMania 27, Dwayne Johnson tackles John Cena (via WWE)
That year at SummerSlam, John Cena and CM Punk were scheduled to square off in the Undisputed WWE Championship Match. Punk unveiled a video at the match’s contract signing in which Dwayne Johnson was seen criticising John Cena.
John Cena and Dwayne Johnson heightened their rivalry prior to their WrestleMania match.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena during WrestleMania 29 (via WWE)
Following Dwayne Johnson’s mockery of him and his catchphrase, John Cena released a rap in which he criticised The Rock for leaving WWE to go on motion pictures.
The two wrestlers’ historic feud started with this. At the WrestleMania 27 “Go Home” Raw, Cena gave The Rock an attitude adjustment during their first in-person encounter (via WWE).
In the main event of WrestleMania, Johnson got his comeuppance by interfering in The Miz and Cena’s match and costing the latter his WWE Championship. Later, the two celebrities would enter the ring once more to accomplish an unparalleled feat: they would set up a main event match for WrestleMania 28.
Although it seemed like a horrible plan to build up to the match over a year in advance, they were able to maintain their steam.
Johnson made many appearances during the year, one of which was to witness the signing of CM Punk and John Cena’s bout contract for SummerSlam 2011. Punk brought a video message from The Rock to Cena for the signing. The Rock mocks John Cena’s entrance into the ring in the video, calling him a “bloated transvestite Wonder Woman” and other disparaging terms. In the video, Dwayne Johnson revealed (via WWE):
This is the source of John Cena’s ire. Every night, the same procedure is followed. John, you’re in your changing room.
You’re sliding on the tough guy jean shorts that no one has desired since 1992 and you’re donning your small tough guy trainers. “You Can’t See Me” is inscribed on your crimson tough guy wristbands as you put them on, mockingly speaking. You appear like a chubby Wonder Woman transsexual, prepared to take on criminal activity.
Johnson continued by saying that people would continually be jeering Cena and screaming, “Cena sucks!” anytime he walks on stage. He further insulted Cena by saying that men everywhere don’t respect him as a wrestler, not even in his homeland of Boston. The Rock defeated John Cena in the WrestleMania 28 main event.
However, they prepared the audience for WrestleMania 29, where John Cena defeated Dwayne Johnson to win his eleventh championship.
During This Time, John Cena And CM Punk Establish A Historic Feud
2011’s Money in the Bank match between John Cena and CM Punk, rated five stars (by WWE).In the June 13, 2011, Raw programme, CM Punk submitted John Cena to a pinfall to win. Punk subsequently disclosed that, at the Money in the Bank tournament, his WWE contract will expire on July 17. In front of his supporters, he made a vow to win the WWE championship and win the tournament. He was, however, barred from attending WWE events that were shown on television due to his criticism of Vince McMahon prior to the bout.
At Cena’s urging, he was later reinstated, and the two would later square off in the Money in the Bank bout. On what was meant to be his last night with WWE, Punk defeated Cena to become WWE Champion in a match that marked the first five-star-rated WWE match since 1997. But Punk would eventually rejoin the organisation and lose the title to John Cena after Rey Mysterio had previously won it from him.
In August 2011, after Cena and Punk both staked claims to the WWE Championship, they were assigned to a SummerSlam showdown.
At the SummerSlam, Punk defeated Cena once more, but Alberto Del Rio won the title a short while after. Up until 2013, Punk and Cena maintained their feud, and during that time, they engaged in a match to determine who would face Dwayne Johnson in the WrestleMania 29 main event.
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Fans anticipate that the rivalry between Cena and Johnson will be on display at WrestleMania, since John Cena has hinted at his return.
