Breakdown Of John Cena’s WWE SmackDown Return

WWE

John Cena had his only WWE match of 2022 on the December 30 episode of WWE SmackDown and now further backstage details have been revealed.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Dave Meltzer comments that:

“The story of John Cena doing his only match of 2022 on the last show of the year on 12/30 from Tampa, also led to WWE having its largest audience and most-watched match of the year.

“The match, heavily promoted on all NFL broadcasts on FOX the weekend before, led the show to doing an average of 2,631,000 viewers and an 0.64 (843,000 viewers) in 18-49, even with head-to-head competition of the Orange Bowl on ESPN.”

The match would see Cena team with Kevin Owens to take on Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn of The Bloodline.

Meltzer would also reveal the ticket sales for the episode of WWE SmackDown saying:

“The return of Cena drew what was announced on television as a sellout of 15,738 fans.

“The WrestleTix number was 13,850, which for all real purposes was a sellout (there were some seats opened up the last day after production moved in not sold but they were scattered) and the paid number was 12,700.

“They moved more than 6,200 tickets after the announcement that Cena was on the show, and nobody for any show aside from Mania moved tickets like that this year.”

He would also reveal the viewing figures for the show, stating:

“The start of Cena & Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn did 2,617,000 viewers and 860,000 in 18-49.”

With regard to the match itself and the precautions taken to protect Cena, Meltzer stated:

“For the Cena & Owens vs. Zayn & Reigns match, everything was said to be very carefully done.

Cena hadn’t been in the ring for a long time and was obviously being protected.

With all the push by FOX on NFL games for the match, the feeling was Cena had to hit the Attitude Adjustment and look strong”

It’s largely anticipated that John Cena’s next big WWE match will take place at WrestleMania 39.

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• wwe smackdown
• John Cena
• KEVIN OWENS
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