The rumors were true and John Cena will not be going to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on Friday.
On tonight’s Raw, Cena was replaced in the World Cup tournament by Bobby Lashley. In a backstage segment, after Lashley had just attacked Finn Balor earlier, Baron Corbin said that Lashley was impressive and Balor had been a “pain in [his] butt” for months so it was “good to see him get his.” Corbin said that Lashley was one of the best in the world and he was going to give him a chance to prove it at the World Cup tournament at Crown Jewel.
Lashley said he thought the tournament was full and asked who he was replacing. Corbin said, “Someone who didn’t qualify. You’re gonna replace John Cena.”
WWE also posted the bracket for the tournament:
π #WWEWorldCup ALERT π@WWERollins vs. @fightbobby@RealKurtAngle vs. @HEELZiggler@JEFFHARDYBRAND vs. @mikethemiz@reymysterio vs. @RandyOrton#WWECrownJewel #RAW pic.twitter.com/cBaActXDr9
— WWE (@WWE) October 30, 2018