Predictions for John Cena's Return to SmackDown Live

Few wrestlers have made as indelible a mark on WWE as John Cena over the years. It's to the point where his appearance alone is a big deal. Recently, Cena has been away from the company to film the reality show American Grit, as well as host Saturday Night Live.

This has left SmackDown Live without its biggest mainstream star since the beginning of October. Cena is set to return on Tuesday to begin the build to WrestleMania 33, which makes this edition of SmackDown a must-watch event for all fans.

That is not even including how big a night this week's SmackDown already is, as the episode is notably subtitled "Wild Card Finals," and multiple title matches are set for the night. WWE has hyped up many of the show's big moments, but nothing has been more promoted than Cena's return:

How will Cena react to the changes in WWE since he left? What will other wrestlers have to say of Cena leaving for several months? Could we see a return to Cena's recent feuds with Dean Ambrose or AJ Styles, or will this be the start of a new feud heading into the Royal Rumble?

These are just a few of the questions fans are left to ponder until SmackDown begins. With Cena, anything is possible, but there are also a few likely situations to come.

The following are three predictions for Cena's return to SmackDown Live to make sure his first appearance back is a memorable event.

Cena Announces He Is Entering the Royal Rumble

Brock Lesnar and Goldberg have already claimed spots in the Royal Rumble, but no one else has followed suit since. It would only make sense for another huge name to claim the next spot in the Rumble. It will only help WWE's marketing for the marquee match to have Lesnar, Goldberg and Cena in the same match.

Cena has made it his mission to capture the WWE Championship for the 16th time in order to match the legacy of the great Ric Flair, but he also must know he's fallen to the back of the line after his time away. The Rumble gives him an opportunity for one more title shot and perhaps one more chance to defeat Styles, who has had his number to date.

For the first year in a while, the prospect of Cena winning the Rumble feels genuine. He has a story driving him and a rival holding the championship who has been his kryptonite. All of this adds up to this announcement being a big enough deal to make his first appearance back a major event and help further shape the build to WrestleMania 33.

Cena Meets James Ellsworth

This is just inevitable. Since Cena left, no wrestler has created more buzz on SmackDown—both positively and negatively—than James Ellsworth. Cena has never actually met Ellsworth, so this would be the ideal spot for a one-off backstage comedy segment between the two. Who knows? Maybe it could even set up a match down the line.

It would be a silly pairing, but there is an appeal to the latest underdog of WWE, who has since grown self-absorbed, meeting one of WWE's most well-marketed underdogs in its history. If nothing else, it would give the fans a chance to see just how small Ellsworth looks next to one of the strongest men in WWE.

Baron Corbin Interrupts Cena

By once more announcing his intention to become WWE champion, Cena will likely draw the ire of many Superstars, including one of the men scheduled on Tuesday to fight for the championship, Baron Corbin. This is another pairing that has not yet been explored in WWE, and it sets up a perfect use for Cena on his first night back.

Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Corbin will be the main event, and Cena should be intensely focused on the result. Having Corbin face down Cena to start the show would make sure he has a reason to come down to ringside for the huge main event, where he may be watching his WrestleMania opponent be crowned.

This could be more than a short-term storytelling move, though. Cena has lately followed a pattern of feuding with upstart heels at The Show of Shows, and Corbin is the biggest rising heel on the SmackDown roster. By setting up this conflict early, WWE could foreshadow a big WrestleMania match this year between Cena and Corbin.

Regardless of what comes next for Cena, it will be the definitive part of SmackDown Live and set the tone for the brand in 2017. Hopefully his first night back will give some clarity to what fans can expect from Cena all the way to WrestleMania.