John Cena is currently filming a movie up in Canada called “Playing With Fire.” He will play a firefighter in this movie and has a starring role. Therefore, he can’t leave the set and attend a Raw taping in order to progress a WrestleMania storyline.
Lars Sullivan was set to be Cena’s WrestleMania opponent, but he had an anxiety attack and went home. Sullivan is said to be in a good place now after receiving professional help, but that doesn’t change the fact that John Cena is without a WrestleMania opponent.
John Cena and Samoa Joe was the plan for WrestleMania. However, Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that he asked about this and was told that WWE is not going that direction for Cena at WrestleMania.
Only time will tell how WWE ends up using John Cena at WrestleMania. WWE apparently has something else that they are considering for him if the obvious choice of Samoa Joe isn’t something they are actually going with. Because that certainly seems to be the direction they are teasing.