Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
John Cena’s 17th World Championship Victory: A Predictable Outcome Marred by Disappointment at WrestleMania 41
The wrestling world anticipated it. Following John Cena’s surprising declaration of retirement after 2025 at Money in the Bank last July, his ascension to a record-breaking 17th World Championship felt inevitable. Wrestling enthusiasts globally embraced the prospect of WWE orchestrating a championship reign for Cena, despite his seven-year absence from singles competition and limited presence within the company. Fans willingly traded suspense for gratification, eager to witness history being made at WrestleMania 41, culminating over two decades of anticipation.
Then, it transpired. However, the victory left many feeling underwhelmed. But what factors contributed to this sentiment?
Masterful Storytelling Leading to WrestleMania
Prior to Cena’s generational clash with Cody Rhodes, positioned as his babyface successor, WWE executed a storyline of exceptional quality. Despite widespread expectation that the Royal Rumble served merely as a formality to propel Cena towards WrestleMania, Chief Content Officer Triple H and the WWE creative team injected surprise into this predictable progression. They achieved this by not only eliminating Cena in the Royal Rumble’s final moments but also by pivoting fan-favorite Jey Uso towards a deserving championship opportunity. Subsequently, Cena’s inclusion in the Elimination Chamber, justified by his stature, secured his WrestleMania title match. This trajectory culminated in a shocking heel turn, perceived by many WWE fans as the most significant in wrestling history, as Cena aligned himself with the villainous “Final Boss,” The Rock.
The Heel Turn and Its Impact
In a remarkably harsh heel promo, Cena further solidified his villainous persona. He emotionally impacted a young child, portraying his two-decade relationship with the audience as exploitative, suggesting his efforts were never sufficiently appreciated. The Rock orchestrated this narrative, while Travis Scott, seemingly inebriated, inflicted an injury upon Rhodes. The storyline highlighted Vince McMahon’s past preference for Cena as the company’s figurehead and implied Rhodes’ current prominence stemmed from Cena’s absence, accusing Rhodes of imitation. The stage was set for a historic WrestleMania showdown, anticipated to showcase the renowned in-ring prowess of both Cena and Rhodes. However, the match itself failed to deliver on these expectations.
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WrestleMania 41 Match Disappointment
Following a bout characterized by lackluster exchanges, the match devolved into a sequence of finishing maneuvers. It concluded with what many deemed one of the weakest finales in WrestleMania’s history. After retaliating against Travis Scott for prior interference, Rhodes hesitated to utilize the championship belt as a weapon against Cena. His facial expressions suggested a reluctance to secure victory through unscrupulous means. This display of perceived nobility led to Rhodes suffering a low blow and subsequent knockout, resulting in his defeat. Absent were outside interference beyond Scott, displays of ruthless aggression, or extended periods of compelling back-and-forth action. The match resembled WWE force-feeding fans what they anticipated, yet delivering a subpar experience. In contrast to other Wrestlemania highlights – Seth Rollins’ surprising alliance with Paul Heyman, an instant classic triple-threat match featuring Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair, and Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship win – Cena’s title match risked becoming a mere footnote, overshadowed by its historical significance.
Hope for a Larger WWE Plan
Despite the overall letdown, optimism remains regarding WWE’s overarching strategy. A promising indicator is Cena’s stated ambition to “ruin wrestling.” In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Cena outlined elements of his post-WrestleMania plans. These plans suggest a potential WWE equivalent to DC Comics’ “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” aiming to reset the wrestling timeline and eliminate its perceived complexities.
Cena declared, “I’m going to make wrestling start over. That championship is coming home with me, and I will be the last undisputed WWE champion, period. They’re going to have to make a new title. They’re going to have to start over again.”
“Ruining Wrestling”: A Bold Strategy?
Retiring a championship represents a significant heel tactic. While typical villainous acts involve physical violence, the audacity to eliminate a championship constitutes a potentially impactful shift. Cena’s WrestleMania match, intentionally underwhelming and lacking the intensity expected of a five-star bout, might be a deliberate step in his “ruining wrestling” agenda. Envisioning his remaining career focused on systematically dismantling fan expectations and departing with a historically relevant title presents a compelling, albeit destructive, narrative.
Future Prospects and Dream Matches
Time remains a crucial factor favoring WWE’s long-term storytelling. Cena is committed to wrestling until December, with approximately 27-37 matches remaining in his final year, exceeding his initial 30-40 match estimate. Having primarily competed at Premium Live Events thus far, his schedule likely includes appearances on RAW and Smackdown. With the championship secured, the ensuing months offer opportunities for dream matches and title defenses. Potential scenarios include Cena finally defeating Roman Reigns in a singles match, or Randy Orton reverting to his “Legend Killer” persona to initiate his own retirement tour by defeating Cena. A Cena/Rhodes rematch appears almost certain, and arguably necessary to satisfy fan demand.
Conclusion: A Start to “Ruining Wrestling”?
If Cena and WWE intend for his 17th World Championship reign to serve as a catalyst for “ruining wrestling,” their approach has commenced with considerable impact.