Verbal war turns physical as WrestleMania showdown heats up

Summary

– John Cena cuts a scathing promo, accusing Cody Rhodes of being inauthentic

– Cody fires back, calling Cena a company product and dropping harsh truths

– The confrontation ends with Cody hitting Cena with Cross Rhodes to loud crowd reaction

Cody Rhodes and John Cena stood face-to-face in the Raw main event segment on March 31, and what started as a war of words quickly turned into a dramatic moment that stunned fans.

Cena opened the confrontation with a blistering promo, attacking Cody’s personality, style, and rise through WWE. He accused Rhodes of being a manufactured star who imitated legends instead of forging his path. Cena claimed he wasn’t a gatekeeper—he was the standard—and called Cody a “sociopathic nepo-baby” wearing borrowed greatness.

Rhodes didn’t back down. With measured intensity, he fired back by reminding Cena that he was chosen by the people—not by the office. He rejected the idea that he was created by WWE and challenged Cena’s legacy, calling him a hypocrite for acting like a savior while bailing for Hollywood.

The insults turned personal, as Cody questioned who really “sold out to The Rock” and accused Cena of leaving WWE in worse shape than he found it. The final shot came when Rhodes declared that Cena had never been brave enough to hear the crowd chant, “You can’t wrestle”—because they never did.

Just as Cena stepped forward, Cody caught him off guard with a perfectly timed Cross Rhodes, leaving the legend in the center of the ring. The crowd erupted.

With WrestleMania 41 just 19 nights away, this explosive moment has set the tone for what could be one of the most emotionally charged main events in years.