In the days leading up to WrestleMania 32, John Cena caused a huge stir when he intimated in an interview that he had been cleared to return to competition. Cena was then present at WrestleMania 32, and while he didn't have an actual match, he got physical in the form of helping The Rock fight off The Wyatt Family.
Since then, Cena's been absent from television, casting doubt on whether he was ever truly cleared to return, or if he'd just been given a green light for that one angle. According to The Observer's Dave Meltzer, had Cena actually been able to compete, the company probably would have sent him on the European tour to make up for the losses of Daniel Bryan and The Undertaker. Cena is now expected to make his return in May.
John Cena suffered a shoulder injury in early January, forcing him out of action for an estimated six to nine months. Given Cena's quick returns from injury, many in WWE held out hope that he would be able to participate in a planned WrestleMania match with The Undertaker, but when it became clear he couldn't make it, Shane McMahon was brought in as a substitute. Nevertheless, a May return would be ahead of schedule and in line with Cena's usual speedy recoveries.
