John Cena Surgery Keeps WWE Star Sidelined For Up To Two Months

News broke on Tuesday that Cena had undergone surgery to have fragmented bone cartilage removed from his elbow, with an estimated recovery period of two to three weeks. WWE’s website updated Cena’s return status on Wednesday to six to eight weeks -- more than double what was original expected.

WWE.com claims that the original estimate for Cena to return was made before the surgery was performed, but James Andrews, the surgeon who performed Cena’s surgery, now feels that the 10-time WWE Champion needs more time to recover. Andrews thinks the extended recovery period is needed after the amount of work the surgery took, and how the number of bone chips removed from Cena’s elbow.

Fans of wrestling know that two months can be an eternity, and usually two pay-per-view events. Cena will be missing out on Hell in a Cell on Oct 28, and his recovery period is close to Survivor Series on Nov. 18, which means there will be big changes to the WWE Championship storyline.

The WWE Title picture will see a dramatic change after the epic rivalry between Cena and WWE Chjampion CM Punk, but the Second City Saint could be enough to carry the show as a major heel. Bleach Report notes that he is –- as Punk put it himself -– the best talker in the WWE, and now he has another mic expert Paul Heyman on his side.

During Cena’s recovery, Punk will take every chance he can to trash talk the Cenation Leader. Yahoo Sports alleges that Punk cutting anti-Cena promos and fans missing him while he’s gone will make his return to the ring and to his feud with Punk even more enjoyable than if it never took a break.

Yahoo says that the time off will give Cena’s reoccurring injuries a chance to remedy themselves. It adds that the 10-time WWE Champion has nagging ankle, elbow and foot injuries, which could benefit from his time out of the ring.

Before the news broke on Cena’s recovery extension, the WWE Superstar tweeted to his over 2.7 million Twitter followers, “You folks have my word i will try my best to get healthy as quick as i can, and im sure i wont stay away from #raw but as of now ... I am supposed to lay low for SIX WEEKS. I will send surgery photos and video to @wwe so they can see how bad it really was…”

You folks have my word i will try my best to get healthy as quick as i can, and im sure i wont stay away from #raw but as of now...

— John Cena (@JohnCena) September 19, 2012

I am also sure that if @wwe took a second to reach out to the actual surgeon, that Dr Andrews would gladly comment. #internetmalpractice

— John Cena (@JohnCena) September 19, 2012

I am supposed to lay low for SIX WEEKS. I will send surgery photos and video to @wwe so they can see how bad it really was..

— John Cena (@JohnCena) September 19, 2012

Despite his eagerness, Cena staying out of the picture even longer than his recovery could make things more interesting for the upcoming storyline with The Rock. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appeared on RAW 1000 and announced another return match for the Royal Rumble in January, where he will challenge the WWE Champion for the title he last held in over 10 years.

It is near definite that the current WWE Champion will hold onto his title until then, and it will be CM Punk vs. The Rock in the first pay-per-view of 2013. What’s special about the Rumble is the Royal Rumble 30-man match for a WWE Title shot at WrestleMania; the perfect time for a returning John Cena.

It wouldn’t be the first time a Superstar has returned at the Rumble; in fact it’s very common. In 2002, Triple H made a comeback after almost a year of being sidelined due to injury, won the match, and went on to WrestleMania to become WWE Champion.  This kind of a dramatic return is exactly what Cena needs to make his new championship reign stand out among his ten previous reigns.

Not only that, but it would set up John Cena vs. The Rock II, after last year’s bout between the two top stars. This is a distinct possibility even if Cena makes his comeback before January, but the shock of an unannounced return could make the story more intense than anything else.