Graphic shown during WWE Payback Kickoff show promoting John Cena as guest referee for LA Knight vs. The Miz

Originally published at Graphic shown during WWE Payback Kickoff show promoting John Cena as guest referee for LA Knight vs. The Miz

The announcement was made on the pre-show. 

WWE is presenting their Payback Premium Live Event from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and as the Kickoff show was underway, a graphic was shown which promoted John Cena as the special guest referee for The Miz and L.A. Knight’s singles match. 

Cena returned to WWE television on the 9/1 Friday Night SmackDown and it was announced that he would be hosting Payback. 

John Cena arbitro especial de la lucha entre LA Knight vs The Miz en Payback 2023 #WWEPayback

Creo que esto era una sorpresa 🤣 Porque recientemente solo hablaron de la lucha y les sorprendio al momento de ver a Cena en la match card del Kickoff pic.twitter.com/bnTRgiZH93

— Deportes Y Luchas WWE (@DeportesYLuchas) September 2, 2023

As of this writing, here’s the advertised lineup for Payback: 

  • Steel Cage Match: Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships — Steel City Street Fight: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor)
  • WWE Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) (w/ Dominik Mysterio) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • WWE United States Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Austin Theory
  • L.A. Knight vs. The Miz (John Cena to guest referee)
  • Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes
  • WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Watching Payback — not on purpose, but I’m sitting here and Peacock is already paid for — it’s so weird to watch John Cena do such a small time thing as (essentially) unannounced guest referee for a nothing match.