WWE is now advertising John Cena for the following live events:
Wed, Aug. 10 – Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
Thu, Aug. 11 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne City Centre, Victoria, Australia
Fri, Aug. 12 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Hindmarsh SA, Australia
Sat, Aug. 13 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park NSW, Australia
New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kazuchika Okada recently spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard blog about his time in TNA and more. You can check out the full interview here along with some highlights below.
What he learned from his time in TNA:
“I learned in TNA that I needed more than just a good match–I needed a character. That’s how I became the “Rainmaker.” It was good for me. TNA didn’t use me, but I got hungrier to wrestle. The struggle made me better. I was always a good wrestler. I feel like I can wrestle anybody. Of course, I wanted to main event wrestling matches in TNA, but in their eyes, no, that would not happen. So I went back to New Japan. I took the timing and technique I learned in the U.S. back with me to Japan.
“When I was in TNA, somebody told me about the ‘Rainmaker.’ I thought it was a nice character. In Japan, there is no character–it’s fight, fight, fight. So I needed a character. When I was just a strong wrestler, TNA didn’t use me. I didn’t have a character, so I knew I needed one. That’s what the agents in TNA kept telling me, so I made this character and I took it to New Japan.”
If WWE has ever made him an offer:
“Never. Many guys told me I should go, but there has been no offer.”
