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John Cena is not being brought to NXT this week to win the ratings war, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Meltzer talked about the move on Wrestling Observer Radio. NXT moves to Wednesday this week because of election coverage on The CW, putting it directly opposite AEW Dynamite: Blood and Guts on November 4. Meltzer said the thinking behind bringing Cena to NXT is that WWE did not want to go in there and get humiliated.
Cena is one of WWE’s biggest draws, so he is being used to make sure NXT does not lose badly to one of AEW’s more popular shows, rather than to necessarily beat Blood and Guts outright. Blood and Guts is usually one of AEW’s strongest attractions of the year, with two WarGames style cage matches on the card.
The November 4 episode of NXT is already loaded. CM Punk will challenge Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship, Cody Rhodes will present the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy, and UFC star Michael Chandler will serve as special enforcer for the Unsanctioned Match between Cruz Montana and Dion Lennox. NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan is also set to face a mystery main roster opponent.
Cena’s NXT appearance comes one night after his return to Raw. Cena is expected to announce details of The John Cena Classic on the November 2 episode of Raw from Brooklyn, New York, and his NXT appearance is likely to tie in with that announcement. Meltzer has also reported that December 19 is the favorite for the date of the Classic, with December 12 already taken by Wrestlepalooza and TLC.
What is confirmed is Cena’s appearance on NXT, the November 4 date, and the head to head clash with Blood and Guts. What is not confirmed is exactly what Cena will do on NXT, or the final date for The John Cena Classic.
Source: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via WhatCulture
