John Cena has revealed that his WrestleMania 34 storyline with The Undertaker was his own idea.
Speaking at the Six Feet Under live podcast during WWE World, John Cena explained that the angle came after he failed to win both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber in 2018. He said the concept allowed other storylines to proceed while giving him a path onto the show.
“It’s a creative narrative that allows the winner of the Rumble to go forward as planned, I don’t have to steal anybody’s shot. The winner of the Chamber to go forward as planned, I don’t have to steal anybody’s shot. Then I can say, the only way I can do this, is by doing something really stupid and kicking a big hornet’s nest, should I do it? That’s when you are sitting at home, the crowd is like ‘Yeah, you should!’ and you’re like ‘Ah s**t, now I’ve got to go to work.'”
Cena described the idea as deliberately provocative, built around calling out The Undertaker in an attempt to force a response. He added that while he takes credit for pitching it, he still sought approval before it moved forward.
“I asked if it was an option, and I was told that it was an option,” he said.
The Undertaker Said He Wasn’t Aware Of How The Storyline Of His Matcha Against John Cena At WrestleMania 34 Came Together
The Undertaker, who was present during the discussion, noted he was recovering from hip surgery at the time and was largely unaware of how the storyline had been planned. The match took place at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, marking The Undertaker’s return after his apparent retirement the year prior. The bout itself was brief, serving as the culmination of a storyline built around Cena’s public challenges.
