6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (17 Mar - Results & Review)

1. Silence Speaks Volumes

Surprisingly, what might have been the most impactful moment from the opening segment between John Cena and Cody Rhodes might have been what wasn’t said.

Cena poured his heart (and bile and venom) out into the mic, followed by Rhodes verbally thrashing him succinctly and telling him to go find the real John Cena to face at WrestleMania 41 rather than “this whiny b**ch.”

What happened next was actually astounding. Nothing.

Cena stood in the ring for a bit before dropping the mic and then left the ring. He grabbed his rally towel – which he never threw to a fan as has been customary – and slowly walked to the back, pausing briefly at the entrance before disappearing into Gorilla.

For years, Cena always has had a response to his opponents. Whether it’s “Fine speech” or a joke or a bad Photoshop job, Big Match John has always gotten the last word or at least had a good verbal sparring with an opponent. He’s never backed down to a challenge.

But here, Cody walked out and cut Cena down to size in mere minutes. Aside from one, “Listen, kid” that Rhodes immediately cut off, Cena never opened his mouth again. And to slink away like that in the most un-Cena-like manner was just unreal, especially after 20-plus years of doing the opposite.

Rather than change his gear or his music, or do some dramatic character shift, Cena spoke volumes with what he didn’t say or do. Just quietly skulk to the back, bested by two five-letter words. Fantastic stuff, 10/10, no notes.