John Cena achieved a milestone in professional wrestling history by winning his record-setting 17th World Championship at WrestleMania 41 on April 20 in Las Vegas. This win over the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes enabled Cena to move past the immortal Ric Flair, who had been credited with 16 world titles. It was significant for a dramatic turn in Cena’s character as he turned heel in the lead-up to the event.
In this high-octane showdown, Cena battled a tough and hard-nosed Cody Rhodes, who had established himself as the most understood as well. The fight had gotten to a key point. Rhodes followed up with his patented Cross Rhodes finishing move, leaving Cena dazed and susceptible to a pin. Rhodes looked poised to win with a pinfall. Enter Travis Scott, who most definitely should have stayed out of it, and pulled the referee out of the ring, allowing John Cena to catch his breath.
In an incredibly unexpected and unprecedented twist, Cena took advantage of the distraction. He hit Rhodes with the championship belt before he delivered a cheap-shot, low blow to the American Nightmare before pinning him for the victory. This sneaky move had audiences clutching their pearls, proving that Cena had undergone a total heel turn and was now one of the WWE universe’s worst enemies.
Cena, turning heel in March 2024, flipped the script. This change made his title victory feel uniquely different from his previous championship wins. In July 2024, he announced his retirement following a series of WWE shows in 2025. The revelation produced an emotional undercurrent to his victory. Days before his birthday on April 23, he turned 48. He sat down to think about his career. He suggested that he would decide on retirement when he turns 50, based on how he feels at that age.
Most recently, Cena traveled to NYC and joined us on the 3rd hour of TODAY back in January 2024. He shared his plans for retirement, and the difficulty of balancing his in-ring career with everything else. As Cena makes his final WWE appearances, he expresses gratitude for his incredible ride. Those real-life experiences have really connected with the fans, making his record-setting title reign that much more special.