Rhodes also must beat Cena to regain the title later in 2025. The American Nightmare needs the validation that comes from beating Cena. While Reigns bridged the gap between Cena and Rhodes, it is the latter of the two that represented the last great babyface hero in WWE.

John Cena will appear on WWE Raw following his record-breaking 17th World title win. Cena beat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship with a belt shot, and with an assist from Travis Scott. We’ll see how long it takes for a new challenger to emerge as WWE begins the build to May 10’s Backlash PLE, which Cena is advertised for.