John Cena is doing a lot of media this week to promote Matchbox: The Movie, and that includes an interview on the British comedy podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster.
The hosts expressed their interest in seeing a future WrestleMania event come to London. Cena agrees and said that’s one reason why he is very excited about the event leaving North America for the first time next year. John didn’t say “Saudi Arabia,” but he is definitely referring to SaudiMania as being “proof of concept”
that WWE can also run its biggest show of the year in London.
“I’ll say it right here to give you guys some good information. I’m still an advocate to try to bring WrestleMania to London. I think London has earned the right to have the event. I am very excited about this year’s WrestleMania because it is the first WrestleMania outside of North America, so it’s like a proof of concept that it can be done. I am still a strong advocate that this crowd, this city, has earned the right to WrestleMania.”
I don’t think WWE’s disgusting business relationship with the Saudi government proves anything about the viability of running WrestleMania in London. Regardless, Cena says he will continue to use his tiny influence as a WWE ambassador to try to make WrestleMania in London a thing that actually happens one day.
“I hope so. What little stroke I have, I certainly tried to rile up the crowd a few times to say that London has earned WrestleMania, and it did get people talking. I don’t know where those talks are at, but, hopefully, maybe I can return to the O2 and stake that claim again. We’ll see.
…Honestly, it’s just my perspective. I look around. I see the energy, and passion, enthusiasm. What a great city for people to come to. WrestleMania is such a travel-to event. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world. I love London, so I think it’d be a nice piece of culture for people to explore and experience WrestleMania. You know, the Super Bowl of sports entertainment. We need to do WrestleMania here. Just my perspective.”
How much longer do you think it will be until WWE brings WrestleMania to London? Let me know your reaction to Cena’s remarks in the comments below, Cagesiders.
