3 Predictions For John Cena's Role as WWE WrestleMania 42 Host

John Cena has revealed he will be the host of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18-19.

The GOAT was last seen tapping out to Gunther in his retirement match on Saturday Night's Main Event in December.

However, the quick turnaround for his first post-retirement appearance in WWE has left some wondering what he may do on the show.

Here are a few predictions for his role as one of the faces of this year's Showcase of the Immortals.

There Will Be No Match

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Anyone expecting any kind of in-ring performance from Cena can forget it.

The 17-time world champion said on multiple occasions he will never wrestle again and he would step away when he could no longer match the product.

He decided that moment had come on December 13, 2025, when he lost to Gunther in a polarizing retirement match.

While Cena has decided to come back to host WrestleMania as WWE makes a push to sell more tickets for the Showcase of the Immortals, that does not mean he will go back on his word and wrestle a match on the show, especially so soon after completing a year-long retirement tour.

It would be out of character for Cena to break the bond he made with the fans after what they were told would be his final run.

However, while there may be no actual match, that does not mean we won't see any physicality from Cena.

Cena Will Deliver an Attitude Adjustment

Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images

Just because Cena will not wrestle a match does not mean he won't have an Attitude Adjustment to dish out to a deserving heel.

As is usually the case, the host of the show will be physical in some form or fashion, such as when Snoop Dogg dropped the People's Elbow on The Miz at WrestleMania 39.

Expect a villain not on the card, and not adversely affected by eating a finisher from Cena, to be on the receiving end of his signature offense.

Someone like The Miz or Kit Wilson feels like the right choice here. Perhaps R-Truth makes his presence felt, or Danhausen gets the rub from sharing the ring with Cena.

Whatever the case, The GOAT will drop a loudmouth bad guy with the Attitude Adjustment, maybe even a Five Knuckle Shuffle, and at least give fans that much.

A Motivational Speech for Cody Rhodes

Elsa/Getty Images

One of the most underrated elements of Cena's performance on the mic over the years was the conviction with which he delivered motivational speeches.

Few did it better.

With several stars facing turning points in their career at WrestleMania, expect Cena to approach one of them backstage and give them a few encouraging words ahead of their match.

Cody Rhodes, whom he battled last year at this event, would be ideal. No one knows what it is like to face the ruthless version of Randy Orton more than Cena, who never allowed the depths to which he had to sink to combat his rival to change who he was.

While Stephanie McMahon has goaded Rhodes into believing he cannot beat Orton while remaining the virtuous competitor he always has been, Cena could remind The American Nightmare not to lose track of who he is by sinking to The Viper's level.

Of all that Cena does on WrestleMania weekend as the host, that might be his best and most meaningful contribution on the two-night premium live event.