WWE Rumors: SummerSlam Could Feature John Cena’s Return, Marquee Matches

SummerSlam is always one of WWE’s marquee events, but the wrestling promotion has even bigger plans than usual, according to the latest rumors. Set to take place on Aug. 21 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, SummerSlam 2021 is expected to be on par with WrestleMania.

As WWE plans to host its largest crowd of the year, the company is targeting a special main event. That means potentially bringing back John Cena, who hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since WrestleMania 36 on April 5, 2020.

There have been multiple reports that WWE wants a match between Cena and Universal Champion Roman Reigns to headline SummerSlam. Cena won his first world title in 2005 and was the face of the company for the next decade. Reigns has since become WWE’s top star, competing in the WrestleMania main event in five of the last seven years.

Reigns defeated Cena at No Mercy in 2017 in their only pay-per-view singles match.

Cena hasn’t been a full-time member of the WWE roster since 2018. The 16-time world champion has made sporadic appearances at WWE events while filming movies. Cena was last in front of a live WWE crowd in March 2020.

With WWE planning to resume touring in July, Cena’s return at SummerSlam makes plenty of sense. Reigns is WWE’s top heel and has held the Universal Championship for nearly 300 days, making him a logical opponent for Cena.

Allegiant Stadium can hold up to 65,000 fans. The venue will be opened at full capacity for SummerSlam, an event that usually takes place in indoor venues with a capacity of around 20,000.

In order for SummerSlam to be a sellout, or even come close, the event will have to feature several top names. There’s speculation that WWE could try to bring back Brock Lesnar, who, like Cena, last had a match at WrestleMania 36.

Edge was last seen in the main event against Reigns at WrestleMania 37 and is expected to be on the SummerSlam card. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks closed out the first night of WrestleMania 37 and could have a rematch at SummerSlam.

Becky Lynch headlined WrestleMania 35 and has been away from WWE for over a year because she gave birth to her first child. SummerSlam is as good of a time as any for the former champion to have her return match.

WrestleMania 37 is the only event that WWE has held in front of fans over the last 15 months. Just north of 40,000 tickets were sold for the two-night event at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.