A major match could be in the works for WWE WrestleMania 41.
According to recent reports, John Cena will likely challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship on the show.
Last week, PWInsider reported that “the majority of talk” backstage in WWE had Cena vs. Rhodes as this year’s big match.
“Currently, the majority of the talk has circled around the idea of Cody Rhodes vs. Cena at Wrestlemania for the WWE Championship,” wrote Mike Johnson.
On Friday, Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cena attempting to break Ric Flair’s record of 16 world title reigns at WrestleMania 41 has been “a working idea” for some time now. He also noted that the initial idea was for Cena to challenge the holder of the World Heavyweight title while Rhodes would wrestle The Rock instead.
Meltzer wrote:
The idea of Cena challenging one of the two champions in an attempt to break the so-called record of 16 reigns that he and Flair share has been a working idea for months. At first it was the Raw title given Rhodes vs. Rock would be for the other title and People’s belt.
The real number of Flair’s world title reigns is up for debate, but WWE has listed it as 16 for many years now.
The plans for Mania, including Cena vs. Rhodes, depend on how involved The Rock will be at this year’s show. Last fall, reports stated Rock had informed WWE he would not be wrestling at WrestleMania 41. However, Rock responded to these reports on social media, writing, “Don’t believe any of that bulls–t.” Despite this, reports have continued to suggest WWE is moving forward with the idea Rock won’t be on the show.
Sportskeeda’s Dr. Chris Featherstone writes:
“WWE has decided to move forward in creative plans as if The Rock will not appear at WrestleMania 41, as of now. I have been informed that these plans could “change at any moment,” and WWE is definitely interested in using him if he becomes available, but he is not currently scheduled to compete.”
#WWE has decided to move forward in creative plans as if The Rock will not appear at #WrestleMania 41, as of now. I have been informed that these plans could "change at any moment," and WWE is definitely interested in using him if he becomes available, but he is not currently… pic.twitter.com/O0iolqhHuf
— Dr. Chris Featherstone, Ph.D. (@chrisprolific) December 4, 2024
More about Rock’s role at WrestleMania 41, if he is to have one at all, could be learned during the Raw on Netflix premiere.
Meltzer continued:
(Rhodes vs. Cena) isn’t etched in stone because whatever Rock wants to do, he’s likely going to be able to do. I do know that people are expecting him to appear on the show in some form. As for wrestling on the show, I even know people at the top who are expecting that, but it’s not a sure thing and one would think the Netflix show on 1/6 will kick off the season and tip the hand
The full copy of today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available with a subscription here.