John Cena wins 17th World title, defeats Cody Rhodes at WWE WrestleMania 41

John Cena

In his final WrestleMania match, John Cena made history by defeating Cody Rhodes for the undisputed WWE title at WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The win gives Cena his 17th World title reign, breaking Ric Flair’s recognized record of 16. It’s his first since 2017 and comes as he is in the final year of his in-ring career and days before he turns 48.

While rapper Travis Scott was part of the action in a callback to Elimination Chamber when Cena turned heel, The Rock was not.

As both men were down following an offensive sequence, Scott, who had slapped Rhodes and injured his eardrum at Elimination Chamber, came out to bring everything to a halt. Cena was thrilled to see him, raised Scott’s hand, brought him up to the apron, and wanted Scott to slap Rhodes again. Rhodes evaded it and hit a Cross Rhodes but Scott pulled the referee out of the ring to break it up.

The 39-year-old Rhodes then invited Scott in the ring who tried to slap him again, but got a Cross Rhodes for good measure. Cena was waiting for Rhodes with the WWE title belt, but Rhodes stopped him and got the belt himself. Cena begged off and pleaded for Rhodes not to hit him but it was a ruse to kick him low instead. Cena then hit him with the belt, revived the referee, and got the pin and win.

Afterward, Cena celebrated with Scott in the ring to close another financially successful weekend for WWE.

Flair took to X to congratulate Cena on the victory, someone he holds in high regard:

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Fans were into the match from the onset, mainly booing Rhodes and cheering for Cena as had been expected more and more since Rhodes’ reaction on Friday’s SmackDown.

Cena, looking virtually the same as he did his entire run but wearing black sneakers and black knee pads, entered the ring with no entrance video or fanfare: just a black background with white letters that read his name.

Cena hit an AA that got a nearfall followed by a Five Knuckle Shuffle that Rhodes worked his way out of. He later hit another AA, this coming from the second rope, that got a nearfall. He made a mistake going up to the top rope with a missed leg drop that Rhodes countered into a power bomb of sorts. He then hit a top rope Cody Cutter that got his own nearfall.

Before the end sequence that closed the match, Rhodes accidentally kicked Cena into the referee that saw Rhodes get a visual pin after a Cross Rhodes. As Rhodes checked on him, Cena took a turnbuckle pad off and tossed Rhodes into it twice, leading into another AA for another close nearfall as the referee came to.

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The win ends the year-plus title run at 378 days for Rhodes that began at last April’s WrestleMania 40 with his victory over Roman Reigns that completed his “story” to win his first major World title. He successfully defended the title eight times.