The Build-Up to Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 41
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The feud between John Cena and Cody Rhodes has captivated most fans, but the enthusiasm surrounding it seems misplaced. John Cena’s heel turn at Elimination Chamber was intended to inject excitement into what would have been a standard passing of the torch match. However, concerns arise not from the heel turn itself, but from the overall execution of the storyline. A heel turn introduced merely for shock value lacks substance and suggests that WWE is not fully investing in building this WrestleMania.
Cody & Cena’s First Meeting
The lack of an address regarding Cena’s actions on the Monday Night Raw following Elimination Chamber was disappointing. The wait of a couple of weeks for this matter to be addressed nearly diminished enthusiasm entirely. Cena finally made his heel debut on the March 17th edition of Raw in Brussels, Germany. It was immediately noticeable that there was no new look or entrance, despite speculation. While maintaining his existing appearance may have had its rationale, not altering his music and look felt like a missed opportunity. A more corporate John Cena would have been more fitting for his new villainous persona.
Cena’s first promo as a heel felt uninspired and lacked sufficient reasoning. Although John is a professional and delivered his lines as effectively as possible, the foundation for this turn leaves much to be desired. His heel turn appears to be a delayed reaction to the audience’s treatment of him. However, questions arise as to why this reaction did not occur years ago when animosity towards him was at its peak. Fans have largely shifted to supporting Cena in recent years, and the ideal moment for this turn would have been 10 to 15 years ago, when it was commonplace to dislike him.
Additionally, the absence of references to his connections with The Rock or Travis Scott adds to the confusion. Cody’s enthusiastic reception from the crowd on his way to the ring during their first encounter was a misstep. After being brutally attacked and left bloody with Cena’s foot on his neck, there was a lack of urgency and anger. Instead, Cody called Cena a “whiny b*tch” and walked away.
Repeated Confrontations & Stale Tensions
Their second confrontation began similarly to the first. Cena entered and expressed his disdain for the crowd, reminding them how easily they were making it for him with their boos. He has certainly maximized the little given to him, and this time he introduced a new twist to the narrative. Cena proclaimed that he would retire as WWE Champion, suggesting that everyone else should create a “brand new toy belt” while he takes the real one home. The creative team added layers to the storyline, but this scenario has been encountered before. On July 17, 2011, CM Punk defeated John Cena at Money in the Bank and walked away from the company with the WWE Championship.
Cody once again interrupted Cena, making his way down the aisle. Rhodes clearly took issue with Cena’s announcement as the current champion. He laid his belt in the center of the ring and challenged Cena to take it. This led to a tense standoff, during which Cena retreated in typical heel fashion. As Cena exited the ring, Cody declared that John would leave WrestleMania empty-handed. This segment felt too reminiscent of the first encounter. Aside from Cena’s startling announcement, this promo did not introduce any additional intrigue. It seems that WWE is attempting to protect Cody from being thoroughly roasted by Cena in these segments, at least until their third face-to-face meeting.
Echoes of the Past: Revisiting Familiar Ground
Undoubtedly, the third promo was the best of the three. WWE finally allowed Cena to fully unleash his character, adding the necessary tension. Cody interrupted Cena before he could speak, and the two finally engaged. The champion adopted a B-Rabbit from 8 Mile approach, preemptively addressing any potential criticisms Cena might level against him. Was this a form of damage control? Cody posed the straightforward question of why Cena chose to sell out. Cena responded with one of the most compelling heel promos in recent memory, showcasing his Hollywood acting skills. He dismantled Rhodes in a manner that no one had managed to do before, skillfully highlighting the aspects of his character that doubters find inauthentic.
To Cody’s credit, he did not back down and retaliated against Cena in a way many before him have lacked the confidence to do. The exchange of insults escalated into the first physical confrontation. Rhodes would leave Cena sprawled in the center of the ring hitting his finisher. If there was ever a moment for violence, it should have occurred during the initial meeting when Cody had just suffered a brutal attack by Cena and his associates. The physicality would have been better restrained as the storyline approaches April 20th, enhancing the suspense until their confrontation in the main event.
Unmet Expectations: A Storyline in Need of Depth
Despite reservations regarding this match, blame cannot be placed on Cody Rhodes or John Cena. Both have exerted their utmost effort with the material provided to them. The concerns lie in the lack of depth in the storyline and the heel turn itself. John Cena’s turn appeared contrived due to a deficiency in excitement, further exacerbated by the absence of a logical follow-up plan. WWE’s rationale for this direction is understood, as a match between two babyfaces could have seemed rather lackluster. However, the reasoning behind Cena’s heel turn could have had a more significant impact.
As a child, the anticipation of seeing top performers on television in the lead-up to WrestleMania was always a highlight. Unfortunately, WWE seems to have deviated from this approach. Cody Rhodes and John Cena will have met only four times prior to WrestleMania 41. In an era where one can easily film promos from their phone, Cena’s limited presence has been disappointing.
The minimal references to The Rock during this buildup are intentional… WWE aims to make his appearance at WrestleMania as surprising as possible. All indications suggest that “The Final Boss” will interfere, aiding John Cena in securing a record 17th WWE World title. Cody excels when pursuing the title. So, it’s expected that he will chase Cena and the title until his retirement match. This WrestleMania must deliver significantly on the night itself, considering the less-than-stellar buildup to this year’s event.
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