John Cena’s next WWE SmackDown appearance might have added significance

John Cena’s final appearance in Chicago as an active wrestler is scheduled for Friday’s WWE SmackDown and a new report out Thursday implies it will have added significance for the soon-to-be retired star.

Wrestlevotes reported that Cena’s appearance at the Allstate Arena is thought by some within WWE to be his final appearance on the blue brand. If true, it would hold significance as Cena’s first SmackDown appearance and final one would come at the same arena.

That first appearance was a famous one: a challenge of Kurt Angle on June 25, 2002. Angle won in less than six minutes, but the appearance remains one that is referred frequently to when talking about Cena’s past.

The 48-year-old has wrestled 28 times at the venue with the last coming against Elias on the Christmas night edition of Raw in 2017.

Cena has eight dates remaining on his schedule through the end of the calendar year, two of which have yet to be announced:

• Friday, September 5: WWE SmackDown (Chicago, IL)
• Monday, September 15: WWE Raw (Springfield, Massachusetts)
• Saturday, September 20: WWE Wrestlepalooza (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Saturday, October 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)
• Saturday, November 29: WWE Survivor Series (San Diego, CA)
• Saturday, December 13:  WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (retirement match/final appearance)
• TBD
• TBD