John Cena’s road to SummerSlam will feature minimal television time, as the Undisputed WWE Champion is currently scheduled for only a single appearance to build his upcoming title defense against Cody Rhodes. Cena’s limited availability is due to his work on a Netflix movie titled “Little Brother,” which is presently filming in New Jersey.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the champion’s filming commitments are the primary reason for his absence. His last televised appearance was his successful title defense against CM Punk at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fans will only see the champion on the July 18 episode of SmackDown in San Antonio, Texas, and the August 1 episode in Newark, New Jersey, the night before the premium live event.
This championship run is part of Cena’s year-long retirement tour, which is set to conclude in December 2025. The tour has been defined by a significant character change for Cena, who adopted a villainous persona after defeating Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. He has since declared his intent to retire with the championship, effectively threatening to “ruin wrestling.”
The stage is set for a high-stakes rematch at SummerSlam on August 2. Rhodes secured his opportunity to reclaim the title and “save the industry” by winning the 2025 King of the Ring tournament, where he defeated Randy Orton in the finals.