In this Super Bowl, you can see John Cena. But in this WrestleMania, you are not going.
The last step in Cena’s career is to star in a Mountain Dew ad that airs this Sunday during the first half of the Super Bowl. The ad promotes Mountain Dew’s newest flavor, Major Melon, as well as its new contest, which will reward the first person to correctly tweet the exact number of Mountain Dew Major Melon bottles in the ad with a $ 1 million prize.
“A Super Bowl ad for me is a life-changing opportunity and it will also change someone’s life,” says Cena. “Mountain Dew Major Melon is really changing the advertising outlook with this campaign, and I’m really honored to be a part of it. It’s an exceptionally incredible flavor, Mountain Dew’s first new permanent flavor in more than a decade, and it’s a brand that represents passion.
“I admire Mountain Dew’s investment in areas of passion, and they go big. It is a mirror image of what I try to do with my life – invest in passion and grow. “
Appearing as a protagonist in a Super Bowl ad is a huge achievement for Cena. The WWE icon continues to expand his portfolio away from the realm of professional wrestling, but it also means that he is less likely to return to WWE. And this year, for the first time since WrestleMania 19 in 2003, it appears that Cena will not be part of the main WWE program.
Cena debuted at the WrestleMania XX in 2004 at Madison Square Garden. There were times when he didn’t fight – like WrestleMania 32 and 35– still he appeared. But the combination of its filming schedule and the restrictions of COVID-19 looks set to end the scene sequence for Cena WrestleMania appearances.
“I’m currently in Vancouver filming Peacemaker, the HBO Max series, ”says Cena. “According to quarantine regulations, if I left Canada, when I returned I would have to be quarantined for another two weeks. This would essentially shut down production. Based strictly on the letter of the law now, there is no logistical way to be there. We shot now until July. “
Although it is difficult to imagine a WrestleMania without Cena, it could allow a brighter highlight of WWE stars full time. And how Cena was explaining his next absence in the WrestleMania 37, laughed at the idea that he is now among that part-time WWE talent group returning for the biggest event of the year.
“What a hypocritical situation,” says Cena with a laugh. “I used to be very frank about the fact that part-time workers are just that and here I am at 44 and I have become what I despise, as they say. That’s more or less. “
Although the card is always subject to change, the return of Cena to WrestleMania it looks like it will be in 2022 in Texas or the following year in southern California. Despite missing out on this year’s show, he is incredibly excited to showcase his work on Peacemaker.
“It’s a wonderful episodic program and an incredible opportunity,” he says. “It is a challenge that I wanted and I start working with incredible people. James Gunn is writing and directing, which is incredible, and it’s something I couldn’t pass up.
“It is very difficult to say because I know it will be disappointing for many people, but according to the charter now, there is no mathematical way that I can be WrestleMania this year.”
With both taking place at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, there is connective tissue between WrestleMania and the Super Bowl pitting the Buccaneers against champion Chiefs. Cena marveled at the longstanding success of Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, who will make a tenth record game in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“Achieving high-level professional success, even for a moment, is impressive,” says Cena. “But this is a sustained long-term success over time and under stress. Think of all the practice, the boring things, the ‘I don’t want to’ things. This is the mystique that involves all those who are consistently big for a long time. It is inspiring to see Tom Brady’s work ethic. “
Viewers will have the rare opportunity to see Cena and Brady during Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast, although Cena’s screen time is much shorter. He is looking forward to seeing people interact with the campaign and tweeting his hunches for a chance to win $ 1 million.
“If you don’t post, you can’t win,” says Cena. “But if you count the bottles of Mountain Dew Major Melon and post, you can win. This puts you in the game. So, if you want to be a little more meticulous while watching the Super Bowl, watch the Mountain Dew Major Melon commercial, count the bottles of the commercial and tag the Mountain Dew Twitter handle.
“You’ll probably post it anyway, so you might as well take a chance. This is a chance to take a chance. And you never know, you can make a million dollars. “
Justin Barrasso can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.