John Cena has revealed that the WrestleMania 34 storyline with The Undertaker originated with him, explaining why what appeared on screen was a spontaneous last resort.
Speaking during the Six Feet Under live podcast at WWE World, Cena laid out the logic behind his pitch after failing to win both the 2018 Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches.
“It’s a creative narrative that allows the winner of the Rumble to go forward as planned, I don’t have to steal anybody’s shot. The winner of the Chamber to go forward as planned, I don’t have to steal anybody’s shot. Then I can say, the only way I can do this, is by doing something really stupid and kicking a big hornet’s nest, should I do it? That’s when you are sitting at home, the crowd is like ‘Yeah, you should!’ and you’re like ‘Ah s**t, now I’ve got to go to work.’”
Cena was direct about claiming credit for the idea while making equally clear he did not act unilaterally to make it happen.
“So, yes, I want to take credit for that, but I also want to say that, in not going into business for myself, I asked if it was an option, and I was told that it was an option.”
The Undertaker, who was present for the conversation, noted the pitch came during a period when he was recovering from his second hip surgery and said he was largely oblivious to the planning that had taken place around the angle.
The match at WrestleMania 34 on April 8, 2018, marked Undertaker’s return following what had been widely assumed to be his retirement at WrestleMania 33, where he left his gloves, coat, and hat in the ring after losing to Roman Reigns. Cena was dispatched quickly in New Orleans, with the brief squash serving as the payoff to a week-long build that began with Undertaker declining to respond to Cena’s public callouts.
Cena retired from in-ring competition in December 2025 and has since taken on other roles with WWE, including hosting both nights of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.