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Cody Rhodes Falls to John Cena's Boring Heel Turn at WWE WrestleMania

2026-07-21 · Cody Rhodes · Club News

Cody Rhodes Falls to John Cena's Boring Heel Turn at WWE WrestleMania

Cody Rhodes suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of John Cena's heel turn at WWE WrestleMania 41.

What happened?

Cena revealed on the new season of WWE Unreal that he had intentionally planned a "s--tty main event" for the biggest show of the year as part of his commitment to being a bad guy. He wanted to win the championship with methodical and catastrophically boring work, making the fans dislike him. However, he admitted that his approach was riskier than WWE was willing to go along with, so he pulled it back to avoid fans turning on the entire promotion.

Why it matters for Cody Rhodes

The Cena-Rhodes match was largely panned, with many factors contributing to the negative response beyond Cena's desire to wrestle a boring style in his heel persona. The finish made Rhodes, who was supposed to be the top babyface, look silly when he opted not to hit Cena with a title belt when his opponent feigned begging forgiveness. Cena hit Rhodes with a low blow and the belt to get the pin, winning his record 17th world title.

What comes next?

Cena held the championship for four months before losing it to Rhodes at SummerSlam, turning back to a babyface in the process. Even though Cena's heel turn ultimately didn't prove to be a long-term success, the shock in the moment when it happened at Elimination Chamber remains one of the great WWE surprises in recent memory.

Cody Rhodes' loss to John Cena's heel turn at WWE WrestleMania 41 marked a disappointing end to his storyline. The match was widely panned, with many factors contributing to the negative response. Despite Cena's intentions to create a boring match, the finish made Rhodes look silly, and the outcome ultimately led to Cena's championship win.

Cena's heel turn was a significant moment in WWE history, and his plans for a "s--tty main event" were a key part of his villainous persona. However, the match's negative reception and the controversy surrounding the finish have left a lasting impact on the WWE universe.

Cody Rhodes' loss to John Cena at WWE WrestleMania 41 marked a turning point in his career, and the aftermath of the match continues to shape the WWE landscape.

Category: match_report

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