Although it seems like John Cena is out of WrestleMania 34 due to the recent events of WWE Fastlane 2018, things may not be as they seem. Some say that a WWE star of Cena's stature — and marketing appeal — is impossible to be excluded from WrestleMania. However, others say that while Cena will definitely make it to WrestleMania, he is also likely on his way out of the WWE.
Cena has built a career out of being the underdog who unexpectedly wins, even when he loses. However, his current storyline has relegated him to the role of a loser who seems unlikely to make it to WrestleMania 34 — at least that is what the story seems to be.
There is the possibility that, for the purposes of telling a more compelling story, Cena has to become the loser at Fastlane. After all, telling the story of a long-time superstar winning one thing after another may be admirable at first, but it is a story that usually does not sustain interest over time.
On "RAW Talk" after Fastlane, Cena implied that he may have to do something drastic, even questionable, to make it to WrestleMania. His storyline can take a number of interesting turns from there, until he ultimately ends up at WrestleMania in April. This means that even though he lost at Fastlane, he actually won — in the long run, at least.
Winner or not, however, there are still speculations that Cena may actually be on his way out of the WWE. Cena's losses may be a way for him to step back in favor of other younger wrestlers who can then go on to step into Cena's shoes. This means, therefore, that Cena is stepping out of those shoes and perhaps into retirement, or even an acting career.
If he does parlay his wrestling stardom into an acting career, he will not be the first wrestler to do so. After all, Dwayne Johnson, who is still known by his wrestling moniker The Rock, managed to parlay his WWE success into Hollywood stardom.
There is also the issue of Cena's age. Cena is turning 41 this April, and while the WWE does not seem to have a mandatory retirement age, Cena may be thinking of getting out of the ring for good.
There is still a possibility that Cena will find a way to make it WrestleMania 34. Whether or not this will be his last hurrah, however, remains to be seen.
WrestleMania 34 airs on Sunday, April 8.
