John Cena Set for First WWE Singles Match Since WrestleMania 39 (Exclusive)

A source tells PEOPLE that Cena “has been blown away” by fans’ positive response since he returned to WWE in August

John Cena is stepping back into the ring for WWE!

PEOPLE has learned exclusively that the pro wrestler-turned-actor is set to announce Friday that he is scheduled to return to action in a singles match against Solo Sikoa at WWE’s Crown Jewel premium live event on Nov. 4.

It will be Cena’s first one-on-one matchup since WrestleMania 39 in April. The Fast X star, 46, returned to WWE television in late August and has only appeared in a handful of tag team matchups. Last month, Cena also served as a special guest referee during WWE’s Payback event.

“Cena is energized by the idea of working with younger talent,” a WWE source tells PEOPLE.

Related: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Makes Surprise Return to WWE, John Cena Responds: 'Welcome Home'

In his last singles match at WrestleMania 39, Cena lost to WWE upstart Austin Theory. In recent weeks, the 16-time WWE world champion has also come face-to-face with other young superstars such as Sikoa and Grayson Waller on SmackDown.

Cena is scheduled to address the WWE audience on Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, which airs live on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET from Milwaukee.

The WWE source tells PEOPLE that Cena “has been blown away by the response from the WWE Universe” since returning for his most recent run with the pro wrestling company where he first debuted in 2002.

“I am grateful for every second,” the longtime WWE superstar tweeted earlier this week while reflecting on his most recent return.

WWE’s Crown Jewel premium live event — where Cena and Sikoa, 30, will face off — will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and air live on Peacock at 1 p.m. ET next Saturday.

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Sikoa, whose real name is Joseph Fatu, is a dominant fresh face in WWE and is part of the famed Anoa’i wrestling family, whose lineage includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, and WWE superstars Jimmy and Jey Uso, among other hall of fame wrestlers.

Cena, who is tied with Ric Flair for the most career WWE world championships, never retired from pro wrestling. However, his appearances on WWE television have become more seldom as he began finding more and more success in Hollywood.  

Since he began focusing more on acting, the West Newbury, Massachusetts native has landed roles within major film franchises like Fast & Furious and Transformers as well as the titular role on Max's Peacemaker. Most recently, Cena appeared as Kenmaid in this summer’s Barbie and Vacation Friends 2 as well as the newly released Freelance with Alison Brie.

Related: See John Cena and Alison Brie Together in the Action-Packed Trailer for 'Freelance' (Exclusive)

A lifelong pro wrestling fan, Cena told PEOPLE in 2021 that he began to bulk up as a young teenager because of bullying. "My passion for strength was out of self-defense. I used to get picked on a lot because I was different in the way I dressed and expressed myself," Cena said.

"As you're an adolescent, social cliques form and I didn't fall into any one of those. So, I got tired of getting beaten up and I asked my dad for a weight set and he got me one at 13," he continued. "I started working out and I haven't stopped since. My quest for strength probably lasted, I don't know, until my mid-30s. And now I'm on a quest for wellness, which is hopefully so I can continue physical fitness for the next, 30, 40, 50 years of my life."

Cena has since become one of the most successful pro wrestlers of all-time — as well as one of the most inspirational. Last year, Cena broke the Guinness World Record for wishes granted — a total of 650 — through Make-A-Wish.

"I really enjoy my life,” Cena told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. “It is hard work to balance the time I need to run myself correctly. It's hard work to be the best husband I can be to my loving wife. It is hard to keep connections with those in my life I love and it is also hard to put in an honest day's work.”

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