Importance Score: 60 / 100 🔵
John Cena Achieves Record-Breaking 17th World Championship Victory at WrestleMania
In a monumental clash at WrestleMania 41 Night 2, held at Allegiant Stadium, veteran WWE Superstar John Cena secured his 17th world championship, surpassing wrestling legend Ric Flair to claim the most world title reigns in professional wrestling history. The 47-year-old Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship in the Sunday night main event.
Historic Championship Win
This victory elevates Cena above “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, who previously held the record with 16 world championships. The match witnessed Cena adopting a villainous persona, particularly in the concluding moments. Rapper Travis Scott intervened to aid Cena after Rhodes kicked out of Cena’s signature Attitude Adjustment maneuver. Scott disrupted the match official’s count, preventing Rhodes from securing the win.
Cena then attempted to strike Rhodes with the championship belt, but Rhodes blocked the attack, opting not to retaliate with the title. Subsequently, Cena delivered a low blow and then struck Rhodes with the championship, securing the pinfall and the historic championship.
Two Decades of Dominance and a Heel Turn
This win marks Cena’s first world championship since January 2017, when he initially tied Flair’s record. It arrives two decades after his first WWE Championship triumph against JBL at WrestleMania 21 and concludes Rhodes’s title reign at 378 days. It also represents Cena’s first singles victory on television since April 2018.
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A Shocking Betrayal and Retirement Looming
Notably, this championship is Cena’s first as a heel, a transformation initiated by his recent attack on Rhodes, alongside The Rock and Travis Scott. This marked a dramatic character shift after over 20 years as a fan-favorite, creating one of wrestling’s most unexpected moments. Cena has indicated plans to retire at the close of this year after a 25-year tenure in WWE.
Mentor vs. Mentee
Adding another layer to the narrative, Cena and Rhodes share a history as mentor and mentee, with Cena having mentored a young Rhodes early in his career.
The storyline leading up to the match portrayed Cena expressing disillusionment with the WWE audience, deeming their relationship “abusive” despite his years of success. Cena criticized Rhodes, his former protégé, for what he perceived as bringing “mediocrity” to a championship he helped elevate.
What’s Next for the New Champion?
Cena’s 17th championship win sets the stage for a potentially compelling title reign. Randy Orton, featured on promotional material for the upcoming Backlash event in his hometown of St. Louis, could emerge as a challenger. A match between Cena and Orton, veteran rivals with Orton holding 14 world championships, remains a possibility as Orton aims to narrow the championship gap.
(Note: While Ric Flair’s total world title victories exceed 16, WWE officially recognizes 16, excluding WCW International World Heavyweight Championship reigns and non-televised NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship wins.)