Recent reports have confirmed that WWE had originally pitched a major heel turn for Cody Rhodes leading into his anticipated Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 41. The idea, initially reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer and later verified by Fightful Select, involved Cody aligning with The Rock in a shocking turn of events. However, Cody ultimately rejected the proposal, leading WWE to pivot and instead pitch the heel turn to John Cena.
According to sources, The Rock was fully supportive of the new direction, and Cena agreed to embrace the villainous role for the upcoming WrestleMania storyline. The initial heel turn idea for Cody was reportedly part of WWE’s routine creative process to build excitement and speculation leading up to the grand event. Interestingly, individuals close to Cody were unaware that WWE had even pitched the turn to him.
Plans for Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 41 had already been in motion as early as November 2024, with Cody set to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against the legendary Cena. With Cena now taking on a heel persona, this match is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about clashes in recent WrestleMania history.
As the road to WrestleMania 41 unfolds, it will be intriguing to see how WWE builds on this new development and whether Cena’s heel turn marks a significant shift in his career. Stay tuned for more updates as the biggest wrestling event of the year approaches.
