Cena hasn’t managed to earn a main-event spot at WrestleMania after failing to win the men’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber match.
The Champ is now determined to regain the WWE title tonight at Fastlane in a Six-Pack Challenge against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and champion AJ Styles.
The 16-time world champion declared that if he wins the championship he will defend it in a Triple Threat Match against Styles and Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura at Mania.
But Cena admits that if he loses he may not be part of the Showcase of the Immortals in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The ex-World Heavyweight Champion though admits that this sort of outcome wouldn’t bother him too much.
He told Sports Illustrated: “What a great story it would be for me to miss and have to buy a ticket.
“The year doesn’t stop at WrestleMania, we do Raw the next night. Now imagine if this stalwart, this statue of the WWE now has to look inside himself and ask, ‘Do I still have it?’ after being left out of the biggest show of the year.
“Vince (McMahon) is extremely smart, and the reason he is so successful is his ability to see beyond what is immediately in front of him. A two-year or a three-year play would be smart.
“I’ve got a ton of outside stuff going on. And I am proudly waving the banner of the WWE.
“Everybody always asks, on movie sets and even at the Kids’ Choice Awards, ‘When are you leaving?’ I’m not. As long as my body holds up, I am WWE-proud all the time. With my schedule, it does mean I have to take breaks, because they don’t allow you to do both.
“I’m fortunate enough to be in this spot right now, but it’s not like, ‘Thanks, WWE, for what you’ve done for me but deuces, I’m out and I’m never speaking to you again.’ All things considered, with everything coming out, I wouldn’t mind my contribution to WrestleMania this year being an absence. If that’s my role in the story, I’ll play it.”
Cena couldn’t compete at WrestleMania 32 due to a shoulder injury but still made an appearance as he took out The Wyatt Family with The Rock.
Even though it doesn’t seem likely that he will win the WWE title at Fastlane the Leader of the Cenation looks set to face The Undertaker at the Grandest Stage of Them All on April 8.
Cena announced that the match won’t happen on RAW two weeks ago but rumours suggest The Phenom will return tonight at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio to set up his feud with the ex-US Champion.