The main event at WrestleMania 41 did not disappoint.
On Sunday night, Cody Rhodes faced off against John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the “Showcase of the Immortals” in Las Vegas. After about 30 minutes — and a little help from Travis Scott, Cena pinned Rhodes.
Cena makes history with his 17th title, as he previously was tied with Ric Flair for the most world titles with 16.
Cena first attacked Rhodes at the end of the Elimination Chamber in March, teaming up with his longtime rival Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson” and then turning heel for the first time in 22 years. (Johnson, who joined the board of WWE owner TKO Group this year, last returned to the ring at WrestleMania 40.)
Rhodes and Cena had their final face-to-face on Friday night at SmackDown at the T-Mobile Arena. Cena reinforced that he was retiring after this year, telling Rhodes, “Sunday is the last time I will ever compete in a WrestleMania ring. No one has ever had the courage to end their career the way I have and there is nothing you can possibly do to prepare to face a man who knows he’s going to die.”
He went on to say that since his move is “so unprecedented,” he knows no one believes he’s really leaving: “They think I’m going to come back because everyone always comes crawling back. There’s no such thing as a wrestling retirement, there’s always one more match. The reason there isn’t a wrestling retirement is because every other wrestler is a scared, insecure loser.” Cena called out Rhodes for caring too much about the fans, turning to the crowd and yelling, “You people do not write history. Winners do.”
Rhodes fired back afterward, calling Cena “overrated” and “overbearing,” before quipping, “Your face is melting wax and you are paler than Sting at Starcade 97.” He also took a dig at Cena’s Oscars bit, saying, “The whole world watched you saunter on the Oscars’ stage butt-ass naked for the people that you run errands for now, and by God, John Cena, it is 2025 and you still can’t wrestle.”
SmackDown ended with Cena slapping Rhodes, who countered his Attitude Adjustment with a Cross Rhodes, standing over him.
