John Cena tells Cody Rhodes: I make billionaires, you steal from their kids

  • Ian Carey
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John Cena laid out more of his motivation for turning heel on Monday’s episode of WWE Raw.

Cena and Cody Rhodes kicked off the show with an in-ring face-to-face segment from the O2 Arena in London, England. Last week, Cena told fans his plan is to win the WWE title at WrestleMania and retire with it. This week, he turned his attention to Rhodes, calling the WWE Champion “mediocre” and unworthy of holding the title.

Cena said:

“I have worked too damn hard to make (the WWE title) a symbol of mastery, to have it paraded around by a paint-by-numbers, sociopathic, nepo baby who is so into himself, he had his wrestling gimmick tattooed for the world to see.”

“It’s not where your tattoo is at, Cody. It’s what your tattoo is that exposes you to the world for who you are — a common fan like them. So after WrestleMania, it’ll be great for you. Go straight to Fanatics, buy the toy belt that they buy, call yourself their champion. Because the last real champion is taking (the WWE title) home forever and exposing you for who you are: an errand boy that got lucky.”

Cena addressed critics who say he buries talent by stating he only buries mediocrity.

“I don’t bury talent. I am talent. I bury mediocrity.”

Earlier in the segment, Rhodes listed things Cena could make fun of him for — including being booed in a company he helped create. Cena later referenced Rhodes’ time in AEW, saying:

“I make empires for billionaires. All you’ve ever done is steal money from their kids.”

Rhodes fired back, saying the fans chose him as their favorite — something they never did for Cena. Rather, he implied it was Vince McMahon who chose Cena to be the company’s top star:

“They chose me. Can you say the same, John Cena? Or was it one guy in an office who chose you — who is not here anymore and we don’t talk about him?”