In a recent interview with WWE Deutschland, PENTA discussed his iconic mask and potential future plans.
When asked about removing his mask, PENTA confirmed he has no intention of unmasking in the near term. However, looking toward the future, he revealed an intriguing career aspiration.
“My dream match would be a mask versus mask contest against my brother, Rey Fenix,” PENTA shared.
He suggested such a high-stakes encounter might be possible in “10 or 15 years,” emphasizing it would need to be “something special.”
This revelation comes as Rey Fenix made his WWE in-ring debut on SmackDown, defeating Nathan Frazer. The brothers previously competed against each other in a singles match during their time with AEW.
It’s been close to seven years since Chris Jericho last competed in a WWE ring but that could change one day. Speaking at the Horror, Rock, and Wrestle Fest in Manchester, England, Jericho said he’d consider a return even if Vince McMahon was still running things.
“I would have considered a return to WWE before things changed. I mean, you’d be crazy not to consider it.”
Jericho finds it “amazing” that their are now two teams he can ‘play’ for after decades of WWE being the only major promotion around. Now with a highly-successful run in AEW to his name, Jericho shared that while he’s not opposed to returning to WWE, he’s not clamoring for it either.
“It just depends on what the situation is and what’s going on with me at the time. We’ll see.“
Jericho would hardly be the first Superstar to move from WWE to AEW and back to WWE. The biggest success story to date in this transition is Cody Rhodes who is currently nearing one year as Undisputed WWE Champion. CM Punk stunned fans with his return to WWE, mere months after being terminated from AEW in 2023.
More recently, it has been reported that Miro will be returning to WWE while many believes recent teases on SmackDown are for Aleister Black. As for Jericho, the first-ever AEW World Champion, he won’t count out walking down the entrance as a WWE Superstar once again.
Kevin Owens has responded to recent comments by former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle calling him and Sami Zayn “very difficult” to work with. KO says he doesn’t have any personal issues with Riddle, but isn’t surprised that his attitude and poor decision making led him out of WWE.
“It’s funny coming from him, I have nothing against him at all but you know, to me, he’s a guy who had really amazing opportunities handed to him like being Randy’s tag partner, and basically getting to ride the coattails of a legend & he managed to screw it all up.
not because of his abilities, but because of his own attitude and poor choices, so for him to say we’re hard to work with and he couldn’t get a word in…there is a pretty good reason for that. You look at our track record and his track record, I think that speaks for itself.”
Riddle made comments about Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn being difficult during an appearance on the Going Ringside podcast.
The “King of Bros” named Sheamus as one of the physically toughest opponents he worked with, but mentioned that working with Owens and Zayn presented unique challenges. He noted that it was tough to communicate effectively with them, saying, “It’s hard to put a complete sentence together with those guys, if you know what I’m saying”.
Riddle currently wrestles for Major League Wrestling, where he’s the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
Kevin Owens confirmed on last night’s WWE SmackDown that he will soon undergo neck surgery, forcing him to miss WrestleMania 41 and putting his wrestling career in jeopardy. Speaking to Robbie Fox on My Mom’s Basement podcast, Owens revealed that the injury stemmed from a match in January. He noted the issue arose despite receiving a clean MRI just a month earlier.
“I have to go have neck surgery which, you know, 25 years in with the stuff I’ve done, I feel like it was bound to happen,” Owens said. “But it sucks man, the timing sucks for sure.”
The former Universal Champion expressed particular frustration about missing a planned singles match against Randy Orton at WWE’s biggest annual event. “Not getting to wrestle Randy Orton at WrestleMania really sucks, that’s the part that bugs me the most,” he added.
“In December, I did a full body MRI just on my own for curiosity… at the time the report came back that my knees were [messed up]… but your spine and your neck and everything looks good. But then in January I had a match, and in the match two things happened that really jarred my neck, and that’s when the issues started.”
Owens estimated a recovery period of six to twelve months, based on cases involving similar injuries.
Beyond the injury itself, Owens criticized how the news of his condition surfaced before he had a chance to announce it publicly.
“It really annoys me actually… whoever leaked it is some office employee that shouldn’t know this stuff in the first place,” he said. “Now they took away my right to tell people because now everybody knows already.”
The injury not only affects his immediate WrestleMania plans but also puts other dream matches in jeopardy. Owens shared his disappointment about likely missing a final chance to face John Cena, reflecting on the ten-year anniversary of their first encounter. “I was really hoping I’d get to do that before he’s done,” Owens said.
With couple of weeks left for the show, they were involved in a war of words on the blue brand. Stratton mentioned Flair’s personal real-life relationship issues and things got very personal on the show. Stratton was referencing Flair’s divorce from Andrade and said:
“When it’s all said and done, you’re going to be just like you are outside of the ring, alone! What is that record, like 0-3?”
Charlotte Flair and Andrade tied the knot in May 2022 after being in a relationship since 2019. However, the couple divorced on October 20th, 2024. Flair was previously married to Riki Johnson from 2010 until 2013 and fellow wrestler Thomas Latimer from 2013 until 2015.
WWE star Ludwig Kaiser’s name also got in the mix. After Statton’s jab at Flair’s divorce, ‘The Queen’ made a comment about Stratton’s real-life boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser, saying:
“Is that why Kaiser’s in my DMs?”
Ludwig Kaiser responds to Charlotte Flair’s remarks
The former Imperium member has also responded to Charlotte Flair’s comments from her fiery exchange with Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown. Kaiser dropped a video of Shawn Michaels telling Diana Smith:
It was reported that both Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton went “off-script quite a bit” during this heated segment, as the pair reportedly said little of what was on the script. WWE had also posted an official clip of the personal comments, but later deleted it.
This is not the first time WWE wrestlers have gone off the script. The heated moment has created visible tension but at the end of the day it is hopeful that they keep it professional in the ring when they face each other at WrestleMania 41.
Kevin Owens is facing a significant setback. On Friday’s SmackDown, he revealed that he’ll be out of action for several months due to a neck injury requiring surgery. This announcement was heartbreaking for Owens and the fans just weeks before his scheduled WrestleMania 41 match against Randy Orton.
Owens explained that he had been dealing with the injury for four months, during which time doctors tried to find the issue and whether for him to get surgery. The uncertainty surrounding his return timeline is unclear. The news led to a frustrated reaction from Randy Orton, who, upon learning his WrestleMania match was off, hit an RKO on SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
A report from PWInsider.com confirms the legitimacy of Owens’s injury, with a source describing it as “awful.” Notably, there’s talk amongst WWE talent that Owens is facing potential fusion surgery. This type of surgery often involves a lengthy recovery period, causing Owens to miss months of action.
The WWE company’s reaction has been sympathy and sadness for Owens. Multiple sources expressed concern and support for Owens during this difficult time.
SEScoops wishes Owens all the best in his journey to recovery.
Dominik Mysterio has a good reason to hate CM Punk.
Dirty Dom, along with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan recently had an interview with Sprotskeeda to promote WWE content moving to Netflix in India. The duo talked about things such as their relationship with Finn Balor, John Cena’s heel turn and more.
Mysterio has been a fierce hater of the Straight Edge Star since his return to the company in 2023. Dominik was Punk’s first opponent after his return to the promotion and the two have been at odds since then.
What’s Wrong With Him: Dominik Mysterio
When asked why he hates CM Punk, the former NXT North American Champion recalled his encounters with Punk as a child when the former World Champion was feuding with his deadbeat dad, Rey Mysterio:
“I hate CM Punk. Why? Because he’s old. He disappeared for what? 30 years and came back. He’s now 60, and he’s still wrestling. He tortured me when I was a kid. So I was 12 years old, and he was probably 45 at the time, maybe 50?”
Dominik Mysterio held off something he wanted to say about the former AEW star but questioned him over his actions back in the day:
“So, like, I don’t know, what’s up — I can’t say that. I’m not gonna say that…. But I don’t like CM Punk. He traumatized me as a kid. Like, who does that to a 12-year-old? What’s wrong with him?”
During the same tour, Liv Morgan also revealed her dream WrestleMania match involving Punk. You can check out more about it here.
Cody Rhodes made an appearance after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois went off air.
While the undisputed WWE Champion was not part of the broadcast, the show had plenty of big names and interesting moments. This included the WWE debut of Rey Fenix and Jacob Fatu winning a US title shot. The episode unfortunately also featured the segment where Kevin Owens announced his neck injury and pulled out from his WrestleMania match with Randy Orton.
The main event of the show was a promo battle between CM Punk, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. The three WrestleMania opponents exchanged words before Punk finally revealed the favor Paul Heyman owes him. The broadcast ended with Punk delivering a GTS to Roman Reigns.
— Just A Wrestling Fan (@WrestlingFan250) April 5, 2025
Cody Rhodes came out after the show went off air and all other stars had left the ring. The WWE Champion competed in a dark match with Solo Sikoa.
The ending of this bout saw Sikoa trying to introduce a chair in the bout. The referee stopped him from using it on Rhodes. As the ref was discarding the chair, however, Sikoa delivered a low blow to his longtime rival.
The Bloodline leader went for his finishing move but Rhodes somehow countered it into a Cross-Rhodes. The American Nightmare delivered two more Cross-Rhodes to finally win the match. Cody cut a short promo afterwards before giving away a signed weight belt to end the night.
CM Punk has finally revealed the favor Paul Heyman owes him.
The Straight Edge Star made his triple threat WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins official with a contract signing segment last week. Heyman had revealed that the match will be main eventing the show of shows, a lifelong dream of Punk.
The three stars met once again for a promo battle on this week’s episode of SmackDown from Chicago. Roman was the first to come out. He took credit for the match being a WrestleMania main event and asked Punk to come out and reveal the favor he keeps talking about.
Seth Rollins came out ahead of Punk and exchanged words with his former Shield partner. Rollins then said that he wanted to hear the Straight Edge Star himself.
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) April 5, 2025
CM Punk finally made his entrance to a thunderous applause in his hometown. He explained that his favor was about things like friendship and legacy.
The former AEW star then referenced the old WWE management, telling a story about how Paul made him promise that Punk would ask for Heyman to be in his corner whenever he main evented WrestleMania.
Now the old management is not here anymore, so he has decided that Roman Reigns will have to deal with it. Punk revealed that Heyman will be in his corner at the upcoming event instead of The Tribal Chief.
Reigns looked distraught at this revelation and shoved Heyman into a corner. Punk saved the Wiseman, however, and delivered a GTS to Reigns. The segment and the show then ended with Punk and Rollins staring each other down.
Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton held nothing back on the April 4, edition of WWE SmackDown when the blue brand came to Chicago, IL. It turns out that the pair went too far for WWE’s liking as some lines from this segment have been cut from the replay. One line cut saw Stratton reference Flair’s recent divorce.
“When it’s all said and done, you’re going to be just like you are outside of the ring, alone! What is that record, like 0-3?”
Flair fired back, claiming that Stratton’s boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser had been in her DMs, suggesting infidelity by the German Superstar. On social media, WWE uploaded the segment but kept these highly-personal barbs away.
Sources say that the segment was unscripted, and that these personal barbs kept many fans off-guard. This segment proved that neither woman is willing to pull punches, even if these comments crossed the line for those behind the scenes at this week’s SmackDown.
Flair and Stratton will battle at WrestleMania 41 with Stratton’s WWE Women’s Championship on the line. It remain to be seen if these personal barbs help or hurt the in-ring performance of the pair when they battle in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
Giulia is officially back from injury. The Beautiful Madness wrestled at the April 4 NXT live event in Crystal River, Florida—marking her first match since losing the NXT Women’s Championship to Stephanie Vaquer at NXT Roadblock on March 11.
Giulia’s return to in-ring action follows a noticeable absence and reports that she was injured. Many believed that the reported injury led to WWE hurrying into a title-for-title match with Vaquer, a match thatt should have received a lot more build. Despite reports, WWE never confirmed that Giulia was out with an injury.
The mystery only deepened when Giulia appeared at an NXT live show on March 22 and attacked Cora Jade, suggesting she was still involved in ongoing storylines. It’s unclear when fans will see Giulia will be back on WWE NXT programming and what will be in store for her when she returns.
Since arriving in WWE in 2024, Giulia has been a tour de force both on-screen and at live events. Her return only demonstrates that it’s hard to keep the former NXT Women’s Champion down.
Jacob Fatu is officially heading to WrestleMania 41 to challenge LA Knight for the WWE United States Championship, following a brutal showdown with Braun Strowman on SmackDown.
The high-stakes match saw both superstars deliver heavy-hitting offense, including a massive spot where Strowman launched both men through the security barricade. The action soon spilled into the crowd, culminating in a dangerous fall from stacked road cases through a table.
Despite the chaos, the match returned to the ring, where Fatu sealed the win by driving Strowman through a table in the corner with a devastating hip attack. Though both competitors were nearly counted out, Fatu beat the referee’s count, while Strowman remained down.
With the victory, Jacob Fatu now moves on to face LA Knight for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41.
Jade Cargill and Naomi are officially set to face off at WrestleMania 41, bringing their long-running feud to the grand stage. The announcement came during the April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown, where SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis confirmed the match following a chaotic night.
Cargill attacked Naomi twice during the show—first backstage before Naomi’s match with B-Fab, and again post-match—escalating tensions between the two competitors.
Their rivalry dates back to November, when Naomi sidelined Cargill by shoving her off a loading dock onto a vehicle. Cargill returned at WWE Elimination Chamber, targeting Naomi immediately after revealing her as the cause of her injury.
WWE later made the match official on social media, declaring that Cargill and Naomi will finally settle their score at WrestleMania 41.
Kevin Owens delivered a heartfelt announcement on tonight’s WWE SmackDown, revealing that he requires neck surgery and expressing uncertainty about his future in the ring.
Addressing the crowd in a somber tone, Owens reflected on his 25-year career, highlighting his journey from independent wrestling circuits to becoming one of WWE’s most celebrated performers.
His announcement comes amid speculation regarding his health. He last competed at Elimination Chamber on March 1 in a brutal Unsanctioned Match against Sami Zayn.
Owens expressed deep frustration that he won’t get to wrestle Randy Orton at WrestleMania, and gratitude for the support of fans.
SEScoops wishes Kevin Owens all the best in his road ahead.
On the April 4, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown, tensions escalated during a live in-ring promo between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair. The segment went off script quite a bit, leading to an unscripted exchange that drew strong reactions from the live audience.
The segment began with Wade Barrett introducing both women ahead of their WrestleMania clash, with Flair—the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble winner—explaining her choice to challenge Stratton by claiming the champion had been “begging” for the spotlight.
Things quickly turned personal. Stratton fired back, accusing Flair of feigning confidence while “crying on some boo-hoo talk show.” She continued, claiming that despite Flair’s accolades, she would always live in the shadow of her father, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Stratton escalated further, contrasting their careers at age 25, saying she was already champion while Flair had been “trying to be a volleyball player, drinking in her daddy’s basement.”
The most pointed moment came when Stratton referenced Flair’s real-life relationship history, stating: “When it’s all said and done, you’re going to be just like you are outside of the ring—alone! What is that record, like 0-3?” Flair quickly countered with a sharp retort of her own, alleging that Stratton’s real-life boyfriend, Ludwig Kaiser, was “in her DMs.”
The segment concluded with Stratton raising her championship belt high, leaving Flair in the ring as their WrestleMania showdown looms.
Sources say the unscripted nature of the promo caught even some backstage off guard, creating an intense atmosphere that blurred the line between storyline and reality.
WWE Superstar Nia Jax has firmly denied rumors regarding her medical status following her absence from WWE programming since the Elimination Chamber premium live event on March 1, 2025. The former WWE Women’s Champion took to social media to address claims that she has not been medically cleared to compete.
Responding directly to the reports circulating online, Jax posted: “lol where is this info coming from? I love that medical info is being shared with randoms. And No” before simply adding “False” in a follow-up tweet, clearly refuting the rumors about her status.
The speculation began after WWE insider WrestleVotes had claimed that Jax was not medically cleared, leading to concerns about her availability for WrestleMania 41, which is now less than three weeks away.
Jax has had an eventful 2025 so far, beginning with losing her WWE Women’s Championship to Tiffany Stratton on January 3 after a 153-day reign when Stratton cashed in her Money in the Bank contract.
She went on to set a record with nine eliminations in the Women’s Royal Rumble before finishing third. Her ongoing feud with Stratton led to a tag team match at Elimination Chamber where Jax and Candice LeRae faced Stratton and Trish Stratus, though they were unsuccessful in securing a victory.
While Jax has not confirmed her WrestleMania status, her denial of these medical rumors suggests she may still be in contention for WWE’s biggest event of the year. Despite recent setbacks, including a failed attempt against Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jax remains one of WWE’s most dominant competitors.
As more information becomes available regarding Nia Jax’s status heading into WrestleMania 41, SEScoops will provide updates.
WWE is making a significant move into the designer toy market with their first limited-edition collectible featuring “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. This premium figure, created in collaboration with renowned artist Tracy Tubera, celebrates Rhodes’ iconic WrestleMania 38 entrance and signature pose.
Fans can secure this limited-edition collectible exclusively through WWE Shop pre-order.
Premium Designer Collectible Debuts
The collectible showcases incredible artistic detail, featuring Rhodes in his iconic WrestleMania 38 “American Nightmare” robe and attire. Standing at approximately 8.5″ tall, this figure captures Rhodes in his signature “WHOA OHH! pose.
This release marks WWE’s first venture into the high-end designer toy market, partnering with Stance to create a premium collectible that blends artistic design with wrestling fandom. The collaboration with Tracy Tubera, an artist known for his stylized approach to collectibles, brings a fresh perspective to WWE merchandise.
Product Details and Availability
The official product description highlights the collectible’s premium features: “Take your WWE accessory collection from unremarkable to undeniable by adding this Cody Rhodes American Nightmare Limited Edition Model from Stance to it.”
The figure comes complete with a display stand, allowing collectors to showcase this piece prominently.
Pre-orders are now live on WWE Shop, with shipping expected in June 2025. This limited-edition release is likely to sell quickly given Rhodes’ current status as one of WWE’s top stars and the unique nature of this designer collectible.
Rhodes is preparing to defend his championship against John Cena at the upcoming WrestleMania 41, with just 18 days remaining until the event.
Kevin Owens has been dealing with an injury that will likely prevent him from competing at WrestleMania 41 in his scheduled match against Randy Orton.
‘The Prizefighter’ had emerged victorious over Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match at WWE Elimination Chamber. Post-match, he tried to inflict more damage to his former best friend until Randy Orton made his surprise return and saved Zayn.’ Orton attacked Owens and tried to hit him with the punt but the security intervened. ‘The Viper’ was previously taken out by KO, who tried to end his career. Orton has been seeking revenge and after weeks of build up, they are scheduled to face in a grudge match at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’.
The match is still official but a report has raised concerns regarding the match. PWN reported that Kevin Owens is dealing with an undisclosed injury and it is unclear when he will be cleared to compete:
“PWN has been told Kevin Owens is dealing with an undisclosed injury with no timetable set for a return to action. This puts Owens’ WrestleMania match vs Randy Orton in jeopardy with 15 days remaining until the show of shows. To the extent that alternative plans for Orton have been discussed, but no pivot has been made for Orton yet. Owens’ last match came on March 1st at Elimination Chamber vs Sami Zayn in an Unsanctioned match.”
Dave Meltzer has since confirmed that Owens is battling a “serious injury.”
There has been no official word from WWE or Owens himself regarding the reported injury. All eyes will on tonight’s WWE SmackDown to see whether Kevin Owens addresses this reported injury.
Kairi Sane is reportedly on the verge of making her WWE comeback following a months-long absence due to an arm injury. According to PWInsider, multiple WWE sources have confirmed that “The Pirate Princess” is “very close to being cleared to compete,” with her return expected in the coming weeks.
The Japanese star has been sidelined since December 2024 when she suffered a right arm injury while performing with the Damage CTRL faction. The injury was serious enough that Sane shared hospital photos on social media, hinting at surgical intervention and vowing to return with an “arm of iron.”
Signs of progress have been evident since early 2025. Sane was spotted without a sling or medical bracelet during the Royal Rumble Fanatics Meet and Greet, where she interacted positively with fans. By February, she had already resumed in-ring training activities, including running ropes, taking bumps, and performing athletic drills.
While WWE hasn’t officially confirmed Sane’s next storyline direction, internal discussions reportedly involve either reuniting her with Asuka in the tag team division or positioning her for individual championship opportunities like the Women’s Intercontinental or United States titles.
As WrestleMania season continues, the imminent return of the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion adds another dynamic element to WWE’s women’s division.
John Cena hopes to make history at WrestleMania 41 by becoming a 17-time WWE World Champion at the expense of Cody Rhodes. Whether Cena wins the gold or not, however, the WWE icon will indeed make history.
In his upcoming title match, John Cena will become the first man to challenge for a championship at ten WrestleManias. Cena’s record as a challenger is as follows:
WrestleMania 20: Challenged United States Champion The Big Show. Won the title.
WrestleMania 21: Challenged WWE Champion John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield. Won the title.
WrestleMania 24: Challenged WWE Champion Randy Orton. Did not win the title.
WrestleMania 25: Challenged World Heavyweight Champion Edge. Won the title.
WrestleMania 26: Challenged WWE Champion Batista. Won the title.
WrestleMania 27: Challenged WWE Champion The Miz. Did not win the title.
WrestleMania 29: Challenged WWE Champion The Rock. Won the title.
WrestleMania 31: Challenged United States Champion Rusev. Won the title.
WrestleMania 39: Challenged United States Champion Austin Theory. Did not win the title.
WrestleMania 40: Will Challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
H/T to @WWEStats for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.
Cena boasts a 6-4 win/loss record when it comes to challenging for titles at WrestleMania and the 16-time World Champion would like to make it 7-4. With the Undisputed WWE Title and the very soul of WWE at stake, expect both the champion and the challenger to hold nothing back when they collide inside Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“I had a little cameo. I feel a little weird because they keep promoting me. You know what? I’m happy that they’re promoting me.”
The film, inspired to the comedy classics that featured Leslie Nielsen, will feature Liam Neeson. Though best known for action and gritty roles, Neeson will play Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s character. Rhodes, a self-professed diehard “Star Wars fan,” was honored to work alongisde Qui-Gon Jinn himself.
“Qui-Gon Jinn, man!… But he was the coolest guy. He was. And the way he was doing every scene, he’d take it a little differently. It was just cool to chop it up with him.”
While Rhodes may not be in a leading role, this is the American Nightmare’s latest major step into the world of acting. Rhodes previously played the villainous meta-human Derek Sampson as part of CW’s Arrow. Back in 2010, he also guest-starred on Warehouse 13 as Kurt Smoller, a romantic interest for the show’s lead character Myka. The episode takes a twist when Myka and her partner Pete switch bodies due to a magical idol, leading to Pete-in-Myka awkwardly finishing the date.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer, Naked Gun is set to release on August 1, 2025 with an all-star cast including Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kevin Durand. As fans wait to see what Rhodes does on-screen with Neeson and co, the Undisputed WWE Champion is proving his talents extend past the squared circle.
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has acknowledged a significant personal transformation since his return to WWE, admitting he was once “arrogant” and “angry” before his career resurgence.
Speaking on Barstool Sports’ Mostly Sports podcast, Rhodes offered a candid self-assessment of his evolution as both a performer and person.
“I’m a product of everyone who’s around me. I think the first time I was on your show, I was not a product of everyone who was around me. I was arrogant, I was angry, and that’s all in there still, but I feel like when I came to WWE they literally gave me every weapon in the book,” Rhodes confessed during the interview.
This transformation marks a striking contrast to Rhodes’ demeanor during previous public appearances, notably from his time outside WWE. The current champion’s journey has been remarkable – from his surprising return at WrestleMania in Dallas against Seth Rollins, to consecutive main events against Roman Reigns, culminating in his championship victory.
The Pivotal Moment
Rhodes reflected on the pivotal moment when he left his previous wrestling promotion, describing the internal conflict he experienced.
“I said you people are not going to believe the Move I Make next… I was torn. One thing was my baby and something that I very much loved and was part of its inception and the origin, but then the others kind of your destiny calling you fate and what you do next.”
He credits his wife Brandy for a prescient warning before his WWE return: “Brandy told me that, and I almost get choked up thinking about it, but she just said be careful what you wish for. And then what I wish for plus a million came true.”
The champion’s reflective nature extends to his appreciation for his current position. When discussing his upcoming WrestleMania 41 match against John Cena, Rhodes expressed profound gratitude for his career trajectory: “If it ended tomorrow, if the story was truly finished, I’ve had an incredibly lucky, lucky, lucky career.”
Rhodes’ personal growth coincides with his professional success, with his championship reign representing not just an athletic achievement but the culmination of a personal journey. His willingness to acknowledge past flaws while embracing his current role demonstrates the maturity that has endeared him to fans.
As Rhodes prepares for his championship defense against John Cena at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, his growth mindset and gratitude highlight the evolution of a performer who has found both professional and personal success in his WWE return. The champion now approaches his matches with a blend of confidence and humility that was perhaps missing in earlier stages of his career.
WWE officials have reportedly been impressed not only with Rhodes’ in-ring performances but with his professionalism and leadership backstage – further evidence of the personal transformation he’s described here.
Whether facing a wrestling legend like Cena or mentoring younger talent, Rhodes brings the perspective of someone who understands both sides of the business.
“I’m happy about my family being there, I’m happy it’s Vegas and wrestling fans who experience Vegas,” Rhodes said about the upcoming WrestleMania, demonstrating his focus on the collective experience rather than just his individual achievement.
For a performer who once declared that fans “would not believe” his next move, Cody Rhodes has transformed into a champion who fully understands and embraces his role in WWE’s broader narrative – a redemption story both in and out of the ring.
Check out Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’ full interview with Mostly Sports:
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has revealed the emotional complexity behind his upcoming WrestleMania 41 match against John Cena, describing the encounter as “bittersweet” due to their personal history.
During an appearance on Barstool Sports’ Mostly Sports podcast, Rhodes opened up about the unique dynamic of facing someone who once served as his mentor.
“It’s bittersweet because John Cena was legitimately at one point the dude I drove around for two years and learned everything I possibly could from, and I did it my way. I did it very differently than John might have thought that I would do it,” Rhodes explained, providing rare insight into his early career development alongside the 16-time world champion.
Student vs. Teacher
This student-versus-teacher narrative adds significant emotional stakes to what Rhodes confirmed will be Cena’s final WrestleMania appearance. The championship match now carries historical significance beyond the title itself, as Cena has one last opportunity to break Ric Flair’s record of 16 world championships.
“It’s bittersweet because I have to do what Jon did during that super Cena run, which is just win,” Rhodes continued, acknowledging his conflicted position as the potential roadblock to Cena’s record-breaking achievement. “As much as John Cena has made a lot of enemies as of recent… there’s still an excitement over the fact that he could break Ric Flair’s record, that he could get 17, and you’re looking at the guy who stops him from doing that.”
Wrestling historians note that this type of mentor-mentee championship match carries significant storytelling weight in the industry. The added dimension of potentially ending Cena’s quest for a record-breaking championship creates a compelling narrative that transcends typical title defenses.
When discussing the broader implications of the match, Rhodes adopted a somewhat ominous tone:
“For those of you who don’t know how history goes, sometimes there’s not always a happy ending… if anything I’d say you’re going to watch your hero unfortunately not [break the record].”
Industry insiders suggest that this match could represent a symbolic “passing of the torch” moment in WWE, regardless of the outcome. Rhodes, now firmly established as a top-tier champion, finds himself in the position of his former mentor – carrying the company as its standard-bearer.
The juxtaposition of Rhodes’ gratitude toward Cena alongside his determination to retain his championship creates a compelling psychological dimension to their upcoming clash.
“John Cena is the type that when he says something he means it, so you are watching history,” Rhodes emphasized.
WWE’s creative direction has increasingly incorporated real-life elements and relationships into its storytelling, and the Rhodes-Cena dynamic represents a perfect example of this approach. Their shared history provides natural emotional stakes that resonate with longtime viewers.
For the WrestleMania 41 audience in Las Vegas, the match offers more than athletic competition – it represents a poignant career moment that bridges wrestling generations. As Rhodes prepares to defend his championship, he balances respect for Cena’s legacy with his responsibility as champion to “just win,” setting the stage for a match filled with emotional depth beyond the in-ring competition.
WWE Superstar Rusev (Miro in AEW) is headed to Las Vegas for WrestleMania 41 weekend.
The Bulgarian Brute is slated to make a special guest appearance at the KnokX Pro event
KnokX Pro, founded by Rikishi and Reno Anoa’i, expressed their enthusiasm:
“KPE is proud to welcome home our highly esteemed special guest Miro! KnokX Pro’s very own alumni from the graduating first class of 2009! We are very honored to be in the presence of God’s Favorite Champion, The Redeemer, The Best Man, The Bulgarian Brute as he celebrates with us during Mania Week in Downtown Las Vegas on Rusev Day no less! Join us as at @dlvec as we give him a warm welcome! Buy your tickets now.”?
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently said that he feels The Rock still has more than one match left in the tank. ‘The American Nightmare’ even stated that he would love to go one on one with ‘The Final Boss’.
Speaking with Pardon My Take, Cody Rhodes was asked whether he would want to face The Rock inside the ring in a singles match. The reigning WWE Champion suggested that he would love to be involved in a match against the veteran superstar. Despite the hectic schedule, Cody isn’t ruling out a one on one encounter with him. He said:
“I think he’s due for more than one match and I would love to be penciled in on one of those. Obviously that schedule is as intense as it gets but he’s still so involved with WWE. He could have easily been the final boss and just kind of taken that as a customary title. But he has really gotten his hands involved in and what we’re doing.”
Cody Rhodes also added that The Rock vs Roman Reigns needs to happen. He explained:
“…what the reaction you can get from doing wrestling moves in the ring and the promo in the interview I really have enjoyed that connection with him. I’d like be one of those, I think he has two matches he has to do. I’m not putting any pressure on anyone. I’d love to see if him and his cousin Roman Reigns ever have this encounter, maybe it’s the greatest match we never get, just because timing whatever it may be. And I think we need to finish our own story with him and with myself but we’ll see.”
For over a year, The Rock and Cody Rhodes have been heavily involved in storylines, starting with Cody choosing to face Roman Reigns after winning the Royal Rumble match last year. This hampered The Rock’s plan to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This led to the birth of The Rock’s “Final Boss” persona.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock returned to the ring and teamed with his cousin Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1. They won the battle, setting up Bloodline Rules for the main event on Night 2. Their story is ongoing and it has continued even after WrestleMania. At this year’s Elimination Chamber, Cody refused The Rock’s offer to sell his soul and it led to John Cena joining forces with The Rock.
