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Back when Vince McMahon was still in control of the day-to-day runnings of WWE, it seemed as though his next handpicked star had come to the forefront. After several years of not being a fixture on television, McMahon returned to semi-regular appearances all because of one young individual, Austin Theory. His rise in WWE led to many rumors indicating that he may very well end up facing John Cena in a match at WrestleMania 39, in a bout which would be sure to take him to the next leve, but then his momentum dwindled, and it felt as though this was off the cards. However, with a recent change in character and some renewed focus, he is now ready to do battle with one of the biggest stars in WWE history.
Austin Theory Was Set For Big Things Under Vince McMahon
Towards the end of 2021, Austin Theory looked to be on a surge up the card, getting featured alongside Vince McMahon as his protégé. The dynamic between the pair was a little odd, but it was clear that McMahon saw some big things in Theory. Whether it be down to his look or due to being a McMahon favorite, there were some comparisons drawn to a young John Cena when it came to Theory.
After some more strong performances, a featured match at WrestleMania 38 against Pat McAfee, a United States Title reign, and a Money in the Bank win, Theory was on top of the world when it came to his future in the company. McMahon had backed him a lot, and it felt just a matter of time before the trigger was truly pulled on a major main event push. Due to his rise, there was a lot of speculation that he was set for a big match at the upcoming WrestleMania, with a potential match against John Cena being one which seemed quite likely. However, due to the manner of his booking, his odd relationship with McMahon, and due to the fact that he didn’t seem ready for a top role, fans weren’t overly enthralled by this prospect.
Under Triple H, Austin Theory Looked To Be Getting Buried
Following his Money in the Bank win, Theory’s luck took a downward turn, especially since McMahon stepped down from power and retired, leaving the likes of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Nick Khan in control of WWE. Theory’s constant losses, dropping the US Title, and being used as a punching bag was proof that Triple H didn’t see the same potential in Theory as McMahon did.
Over the last month, things got even worse for Theory, as he failed at cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase when he attempted to win the United States Championship instead of a World Title. This made Theory look absolutely stupid, and it felt like the pinnacle of all burials. It wasn’t clear where he was going to end up on the card from this point on, and any chance of a big match against John Cena seemed a million miles away. However, Triple H’s plans for Theory weren’t a burial, with his MITB loss being the genesis of a new push.
Austin Theory’s New Character Has Made Him Ready For A Match Against John Cena
After his humiliating defeat, Theory’s character took a turn. He dropped the selfie-taking gimmick and became more focused, intense, and violent. Thus far, even in just a few weeks, he has recovered greatly, once more looking like a legitimate competitor. He would win the United States Championship at Survivor Series, and despite his previous losses, his momentum has well and truly returned. It is now conceivable to see him continuing this good form, and potentially find himself in a good spot at WrestleMania 39. In fact, it could be argued that the rumored match against Cena should be in WWE’s plans, especially after it was revealed that Cena is in WWE’s mind for the show next year.
Cena has often been connected to the United States Championship, with it being the first title he ever held, in addition to his brilliant run with the gold in 2015. Having him come back to challenge Theory would further add prestige to the belt, which has continually grown in importance since Triple H took control. WWE may not be able to help themselves by booking a match such as John Cena vs Steve Austin, but to ensure that new stars keep getting made, there should be a focus on the next generation, and putting Theory over Cena is the right thing to do. Theory’s new character has unveiled a whole different side to him. He's constantly improving as the year has gone on, and is now being ready to defeat Cena, in what could be a passing of the torch.