Cody Rhodes was the victim of one of the most unexpected moments of Elimination Chamber 2025 where John Cena turned heel. At the PLE in Toronto, Cena left his normal fan favorite character and shifted to a more dominating and ruthless character by aligning with The Rock. Not did his action shocked the fans but also set a dramatic confrontation between him and the Undisputed WWE Champion. The Cenation Leader’s sudden character shift shows he is unstoppable and the American Nightmare looks helpless while carrying the torch of heroism.
With the big change in character, WrestleMania 41 now has booked its main event. The match has three top stars from three different eras in the form of The Rock, John Cena and Cody Rhodes. WWE’s creative team now has a chance to sell out their weekly shows enroute to the Show of Shows by building the storyline. In this article we will have a look at how the creative team can build the plot for the Grandest Stage of Them All.
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Building Tension Through Promos and Confrontations
In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 41, both Cena and Rhodes can engage in a heated argument making this rivalry more intense. A new heel role of the 16-time world champion will not only be aiming to embrace his reason to shift the character at the right time but also to mock Rhodes for not aligning with the Final Boss. Cena could also doubt his legacy which is not his own but he is living up his fathers legacy.
Meanwhile, Rhodes will be majoring on the right decision he took by not aligning with The Great One and refusing the shortcuts. He portrays himself as the champion and championship is earned. The Champion can mention that things can be achieved by using difficult routes too and there is no need for shortcuts to achieve them or are snatched by the mind games and tricks. This back-and-forth exchange builds tension and anticipation for their match at WrestleMania 41.
Interference and Mind Games
As the Show of Shows approaches, we can witness mind games and unexpected turns in their storyline. One of the main characters is The Rock’s interference with a motive to support Cena and teach Rhodes a lesson. This makes the event even more complex and unpredictable in their feud as the Final Boss’s involvement has any other motives or really he is on Cena’s behalf.
Not only The Rock’s involvement but other superstars may also interfere in their rivalry. We can expect Roman Reigns’ or CM Punk’s appearance too if Cena manages to win the WrestleMania match against Rhodes. All these elements and interference will elevate the match hype and viewership too.
The Match Build-Up: A Personal Grudge
The final weeks leading up to WrestleMania should focus on escalating personal attacks between both competitors. Cena who has shifted his character to a heel face can now target the Rhodes family legacy and claim Rhodes unworthiness for carrying forward the legacy.
Completely opposite, the American Nightmare could highlight the fact of Cena tarnishing his image created by decades of hard work in the company. Maybe the Cenation leader could embrace a new look for his heel. Personal and professional grudges fuels their rivalry and now its not only limited to Championship but also about pride and honor for both players.
John Cena Vs. Cody Rhodes: The Climactic Showdown at WrestleMania 41
At WrestleMania 41, the WWE Universe can expect an amazing show filled with potential interference. Their entrance in the ring will be filled with contrasting reactions as boos for Cena and cheers for Rhodes from his loyal supporters.
The match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 should be a storytelling masterpiece, blending in-ring action with emotional stakes. Cena full heel character will leave no point to demolish Rhodes popularity whereas, Rhodes will try his best with his technical fitness and agility. In addition, The thing which engaged fans with this match was the unpredictable Rock Appearance during the match.
The outcome should not be about who wins the match any outcome can be used to protect both the stars. The 16-time world champion can steal the match using his heel tactics or Rhodes could retain clean. The thing that matters is how it will influence the future of WWE and shape the storylines going forward.
Vijay Suyal 
Reddaveni Saisneha