LAS VEGAS — John Cena made history at WrestleMania 41, defeating Cody Rhodes to win a record-setting 17th WWE Championship. But in true heel fashion, the post-match story wasn’t just about the gold—it was about control.
In the press conference following the main event, Cena brushed off every question thrown his way. When asked about The Rock or how he felt about breaking the championship record, he cut off the conversation with, “That seems like clickbait.”
So when a final, heartfelt question came—asking what it meant to make history and how he reflected on his legendary journey—Cena didn’t blink.
“You know, that seems like a clickbait question,” he snapped. “I’m beginning to sense a pattern here that you guys are just looking for headlines. Keep in mind—you’re now talking to the last real champion. Step your game up next time.”
It was a mic-drop moment—biting, dismissive, and perfectly in tune with Cena’s current character.
A Controversial Main Event
Inside Allegiant Stadium, the match between Cena and Rhodes had all the hallmarks of a WrestleMania spectacle: big moves, bigger names, and massive crowd energy. But despite the buildup, the bout didn’t quite meet the hype.
The biggest surprise? Travis Scott appeared ringside instead of the long-rumored Rock. While Scott had previously appeared during Rhodes’ beatdown at Elimination Chamber, his involvement here felt disjointed.
The match ended with Cena striking Rhodes with the title belt before pinning him—a finish that felt more sudden than satisfying. Commentators Joe Tessitore and Big E admitted it wasn’t one of Cena’s all-time greats.
Heel Cena Shines in the Spotlight
While the match itself may have fallen flat, Cena’s heel persona continues to shine. Known for his iconic WrestleMania entrances—like driving through glass at WrestleMania 23 or cloning himself at WrestleMania 25—Cena this time gave fans… nothing. Just a black screen with his name. It was a deliberate, powerful statement: you don’t deserve the moment.
Even as fans cheered and thanked him during his exit, Cena held his ground. His heel run walks a fine line—balancing his enduring popularity with a character meant to draw heat. It’s a challenge few could pull off, but Cena is doing it with masterful precision.
Triple H Praises Cena’s Control of the Crowd
“Now he gets to be the puppet master,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “He gets to flip that coin and be the polar opposite of everything he was before. And he’s loving it.”
Cena’s farewell tour wasn’t expected to be this dominant—or this dark. When he kicked it off during WWE’s Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw in January, a title win seemed unlikely. Yet here he is, champion again, giving fans “everything he’s got,” as he promised.
What’s Next for the Farewell Tour?
Cena teased his next steps during the Raw after WrestleMania, claiming he would show fans how he plans to “ruin wrestling.” The specifics remain unclear, but Cena’s presence ensures it’ll be must-see TV.
As champion, Cena is expected to appear frequently over the next seven months. The countdown to his final match is officially underway, and every show now becomes a chance to dethrone the “last true champion” before his storied career ends.
With the “new season” of WWE now in motion, fans can expect shocking moments—and many of them likely to come from Cena himself. As Triple H put it: “He’s driving now, and he’s having a blast doing it.”
Bottom line: Cena may have ignored the softball question, but he’s still throwing fastballs. His farewell tour has become one of the most compelling chapters in modern WWE—and it’s far from over.
