John Cena Expected To BEAT Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania 41 (WWE News)
WWE's original WrestleMania 41 plans reportedly called for John Cena to beat Cody Rhodes.
John Cena defeating Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 could be on the table.
Dave Meltzer reported as much on Wrestling Observer Radio today, stating that WWE's original plan was for Cena to dethrone Rhodes as Undisputed WWE Champion. Meltzer still expects this to be the case.
The comments came after Meltzer's cohost Bryan Alvarez asked: "You know Cena's winning, right?"
Rhodes vs. Cena was established as WrestleMania 41's biggest headliner at Elimination Chamber 2025. Cena won the titular match to earn his Undisputed WWE Title shot, outlasting CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Damian Priest, Logan Paul, and Drew McIntyre, after the already-eliminated Rollins attacking Punk allowed John to lock the Chicagoan in an STFU.
Rhodes came down to the ring to congrulate Cena afterwards. This prompted The Rock to show up with Travis Scott, asking Rhodes for an answer on if he'd "sell his soul" to Rock. When Cody told Rock to "go **** yourself", Cena pulled the trigger on a decades-in-the-making heel turn, destroying Rhodes in one of the most memorable WWE angles in years.
Considered one of the best wrestlers in the world, Cody has been Undisputed WWE Champion since dethroning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. His 'Mania 41 opponent will be chasing a 17th world championship that would pull him clear of Ric Flair, with whom Cena currently shares the record for the most world title reigns acknowledged by WWE.
Despite the heel turn angle's success, Cena was not The Rock's original choice to turn heel and align with 'The Great One' heading into WrestleMania 41. Rhodes reportedly turned down the idea ahead of Elimination Chamber 2025.