Image: WWE

After not appearing on tonight’s show, John Cena will return to SmackDown next week.

WWE has announced that Cena will appear on next Friday’s episode of SmackDown. It’s taking place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is the second-to-last episode of the show before SummerSlam.

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Cena challenging for Reigns’ Universal Championship was made official for SummerSlam on SmackDown last week. Though he didn’t appear on television tonight, Cena teamed with Rey & Dominik Mysterio to defeat Reigns & The Usos in a post-show dark match.

After Reigns initially declined Cena’s SummerSlam challenge, it was teased that Reigns would be facing Finn Balor at the pay-per-view instead. But Baron Corbin attacked Balor during a contract signing segment on SmackDown last week. Corbin tried to sign the SummerSlam contract, but Cena appeared and took out Corbin. Cena then signed the contract himself.

Balor defeated Corbin in the main event of tonight’s SmackDown. Earlier in the show, Balor was interviewed and said that, after he was done with Corbin, he had a bone to pick with Cena.

Balor got on the microphone after defeating Corbin. Balor said he wants to face Reigns for the Universal Championship — and he’s willing to go through Cena if that’s what he has to do.

Reigns then interrupted Balor. Reigns said he can understand why Balor is upset and can understand why Balor is running his mouth about Cena, but Balor needs to remember that Reigns tried to give him an opportunity. Reigns told Balor to keep his name out of his mouth. When Reigns threw the microphone at him, Balor responded by pushing Reigns out of the ring.

The Usos then attacked Balor from behind. After Balor fought them off, Reigns returned to the ring and brawled with Balor. Balor was getting the better of things, but The Usos recovered and got involved again. Reigns and The Usos laid out Balor to close the show, including Reigns putting Balor in a guillotine choke.