John Cena wins Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, breaks all-time record
John Cena wins Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania, breaks all-time record
LAS VEGAS — "The Champ" is the champ again.
John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 41, capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship and breaking the record for most WWE titles in history.
The bell rang in Sunday's main event and the two competitors soaked in the energy for the main event. They tied up and Cena dotted out of the ring. They tied up once more and Cena again got out as he told Rhodes "get off me." The third tie up was the charm for Cena as he put Rhodes in a headlock, but Rhodes reacted quickly and got on his feet to deliver a drop kick. Cena went out, but Rhodes met him outside with a dive and brought him back in.
Cena then went to work with consecutive stomps to Rhodes and a big boot to his face. The 16-time champion was in control, throwing Rhodes around. Cena went for a quick pin that was quickly kicked out by Rhodes, and the challenger seemed to be having fun punishing the champion, sitting on the top turnbuckle in between attacks. There were flashes of a young Cena with moves like a spinning DDT, with some vintage moves thrown in. As Rhodes laid on the ground, Cena raised his hand in the air. As he went for the five-knuckle shuffle, Rhodes jabbed him in the face to turn the tide.
Rhodes set up the bionic elbow, but suddenly Cena reversed it into an Attitude Adjustment. It hit and he went for the pin, butRhodes kicked out. Cena got up and then delivered a five-knuckle shuffle as the crowd yelled "you can't see me." Cena wanted another AA but Rhodes escaped. Cena didn't let Rhodes get away much and met him at the top turnbuckle for a flying AA. Yet again, Rhodes kicked out of the pin.
Cena tried an aerial attack that was caught by Rhodes, and the champion leaped all the way off the top turnbuckle to deliver a Cody Cutter. Rhodes set up for the Cross Rhodes, and Cena met it with an AA. He hit it, and then got Rhodes in the STF lock in the middle of the ring. Rhodes was having trouble getting out of it but once he did, it resulted in the referee getting knocked. Rhodes hit Cena with a Cross Rhodes and the pin would've worked, only the referee was knocked out.
As Rhodes tried to get the referee up, Cena exposed one of the turnbuckles and Cena pushed Rhodes into it twice before hitting an AA. He went for the pin as the referee recovered, but Rhodes somehow kicked out.
Travis Scott's "Fein" hit the stadium speakers and the rapper emerged from the stage. He came down and met Cena in the ring, and Rhodes saw an opening. He hit Cena with a Cody cutter and went for the pin, but Scott dragged the referee out. Rhodes and Scott went face-to-face and Scott tried to hit him, only for Rhodes to stop it and deliver a Cross Rhodes.
Rhodes turned his back and Cena was waiting to hit him with the title. Rhodes stopped it and threatened to hit him with the title, but while he hesitated, Cena delivered a low blow. Cena readied to hit Rhodes and it landed. Cena dragged the referee back in and the pin worked to capture the title.
WrestleMania 41 was the last for Cena as 2025 is his last year of competing in a WWE ring. Ever since he announced his farewell tour last year, fans have shown their appreciation for one of the best to ever do it and hoped for a magical final run. It has indeed been special, but in a way few people saw coming.
Cena won the opportunity to challenge Rhodes at Elimination Chamber, but he shocked the WWE world when he went heel and attacked Rhodes in a vicious, stunning assault. Since then, Cena has berated fans, saying they were never satisfied with his career accomplishments and always seeking more from him. He was tired of the mistreatment, and instead of focusing on doing what's right for fans, he was going to focus on winning − no matter the cost.
With the win, Cena is now a 17-time WWE Champion, breaking the tie with Ric Flair for the most in WWE history. It's his first time as WWE Champion since February 2017 as the seven year drought was the longest of his career.
Now in his final year in the ring, he sets a record that will likely stand for decades as his hall of fame career enters its final months.
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