10 WWE Champions Who Vanished Without A Trace After WrestleMania
2. Cody Rhodes - 2025
Cody Rhodes finally reached the mountaintop at WrestleMania 40, defeating Roman Reigns and completing the most emotional story WWE had told in years. His reign lasted 378 days — a full calendar year of defending the title, cutting passionate promos, and carrying Smackdown (and sometimes Raw) on his back.
And then came WrestleMania 41.
Cody lost the title to John Cena in a shocking finish that saw him refuse to use the championship belt as a weapon — a moment of restraint that made zero sense given the year-long build. And after that? Cody was gone.
Fans were left stunned. This wasn’t just a title loss, it was a character collapse. Cody had spent a year walking the line between hero and desperate champion, only to vanish without a trace when it all came crashing down. It didn't fit his character at all, and the silence was deafening.
Cody returned in time for Money in the Bank 2025, but his month away with no explanation was a bizarre move.