During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes discussed his rivalry with John Cena, emphasizing that their SummerSlam encounter stood out because their WrestleMania 41 match had fallen short of expectations. Rhodes suggested that the weakness of their earlier bout helped elevate the quality and excitement of their SummerSlam showdown.
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer rated the WrestleMania 41 match between Rhodes and Cena at just three-quarters of a star, labeling it as one of the poorest main events in WrestleMania history. Reflecting on this, Rhodes explained,
“I hate saying this, but part of the beauty of how great that match is was the lack of a match that really took place at WrestleMania, in a sense. Sometimes, the long game is the game. And again, it’s like going on last—it’s a hard spot occasionally, but the bigger picture. I treat them as they were the same match, and then we just got to use all the bells and whistles.” – Cody Rhodes, Undisputed WWE Champion
At WrestleMania 41, Cena was wrestling as a heel and won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Rhodes. Despite Cena’s status as a 17-time world champion, the match was underwhelming, further dampened by the absence of The Rock, who fans expected to appear. Instead, rapper Travis Scott made a surprise appearance, which disappointed the audience given previous hints that The Rock would be involved, similar to the event at Elimination Chamber.
The match was notably less compelling than the headliner on WrestleMania 41’s first night, which featured Seth Rollins, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns. Cena’s heel persona did not resonate well with fans, who appeared relieved when he shifted back to his familiar face character just before SmackDown.
Current Developments Involving Cody Rhodes and John Cena
Following Rhodes’ victory over Cena at SummerSlam, their recent activities have diverged significantly. Cena suffered a heavy defeat at Wrestlepalooza, while Rhodes successfully retained the Undisputed WWE Title against Drew McIntyre.
Looking ahead, the next major WWE pay-per-view event, Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, marks a significant moment as it will be Cena’s final WWE match on Australian soil. Cena is scheduled to face AJ Styles there. Meanwhile, Rhodes is set to compete against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins to crown the Men’s Crown Jewel Champion, a title Rhodes himself inaugurated last year.
Cena continues his ongoing farewell tour with only a few dates remaining. His ultimate WWE match is planned for December 13 in Washington, D.C., during Saturday Night’s Main Event. This event has shifted from its traditional NBC broadcast to Peacock streaming. Rhodes is expected to appear on the card at this event as well.
The Broader Impact of These Rivalries and Matches
The contrast between the lackluster WrestleMania 41 showdown and the praised SummerSlam match underscores how expectations and storytelling play a vital role in WWE’s major events. Rhodes’ acknowledgment that the “long game” strategy contributed to their SummerSlam success reveals how narrative pacing affects fan reception.
With Cena’s farewell tour nearing its conclusion, the focus increasingly shifts to Rhodes’ championship reign and upcoming high-profile matches like Crown Jewel. How these storylines unfold will shape WWE’s landscape moving forward, especially as new champions rise and legacy stars conclude their careers.
