WrestleMania 41 descends upon Las Vegas this weekend, transforming the city into a wrestling haven. The event, set for April 19–20 at Allegiant Stadium, marks WWE's grand return to Sin City, reminiscent of its 1993 spectacle.
In the lead-up, WWE embarked on an 11-city European tour, igniting fan fervor from Barcelona to London. This journey culminates in a high-stakes showdown: Cody Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE Champion, faces John Cena, whose shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber—aligning with The Rock—sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe.
Cena stunned the wrestling world when he betrayed his fans and Cody Rhodes at the Elimination Chamber premium live event. After two decades as WWE's resident superhero, he sold his soul to The Rock with the intent to win a record-breaking 17th world championship.
Now on the doorstep of eclipsing Ric Flair as the most decorated world champion in WWE history, Cena enters Las Vegas ready to prove his recent tirades against the fans correct—to take the WWE Championship and depart the company at the end of his Farewell Tour.
All he has to do is defeat one of the grittiest fighters in the company in Rhodes, who has taken his lumps before but always managed to battle back.
Currently, Cena is the favourite to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, with odds of 2/5 when assessing Missouri sportsbooks options from Gambling.com— the reigning champion Rhodes stands as the underdog at 17/10.
But The American Nightmare is resilient. We saw it throughout 2023 as he rebuilt after a devastating loss to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, earned his way back to that spot, and defeated The Tribal Chief at last year's event.
Unfortunately for Rhodes, it will likely not come down to who the better wrestler is. If Rollins and Heyman do, in fact, leave the main event of Saturday together, don't be surprised if they appear in Sunday's main event to assist Cena with the victory as part of the overarching storyline involving The Rock.
Cena did what was "best for business," and assuming Rollins follows suit, WWE could very well have a new Corporation forming—a supergroup at the top of the card around which everything is built.
This wouldn't be the first time creative has pivoted toward a power structure storyline; the original Corporation angle was born from necessity after the Montreal Screwjob created real-world heat that Vince McMahon brilliantly channeled into his Mr. McMahon character.
If Cena leaves Vegas with the title via nefarious means, Rhodes will be back in the chase position, ending what has been a remarkable championship run. How does Cody's year-long reign compare to some of the best champions in modern wrestling history?
Kurt Angle – WWE Champion (2000–2001)
Kurt Angle's first WWE Championship reign began on October 22, 2000, when he defeated The Rock at No Mercy. Holding the title for 126 days, Angle showcased his exceptional wrestling prowess and adaptability in the main event scene. During an era marked by frequent title changes, his reign stood out for its duration and the quality of matches.
What's often overlooked about Angle's run was the backstage confidence Vince had in him despite his relative inexperience.
According to Dave Meltzer's reporting at the time, Angle was seen as the complete package—Olympic credentials, microphone skills that exceeded expectations, and an uncanny ability to have 4-star matches with a variety of opponents.
His technical matches with Benoit and his more entertainment-focused bouts with Triple H demonstrated a versatility that Rhodes has similarly shown.
Batista – World Heavyweight Champion (2005–2006)
The 2005 Royal Rumble concluded with one of WWE's most chaotic and memorable finishes. In the final moments, both Cena and Batista went over the top rope simultaneously, leading to confusion over the rightful winner.
As officials from Raw and SmackDown disputed the outcome, Vince stormed to the ring to restore order but famously tore both his quads while entering, rendering him unable to stand. The match was restarted, and Batista ultimately eliminated Cena to secure his victory.
The chaos resulted in the Animal’s ascent to the top, which began with his victory over Triple H at WrestleMania 21 on April 3, 2005.
His reign lasted 282 days, making it the longest single tenure with the World Heavyweight Championship at that time. Batista's dominance on SmackDown was evident through high-profile feuds, including a memorable rivalry with Booker T, who became King Booker.
Behind the scenes, this reign represented WWE's commitment to creating new stars following the end of the Attitude Era—a parallel to Rhodes' position as the face of the post-Roman Reigns landscape. Batista's run was ultimately cut short by injury, a reminder of how fragile even the most carefully planned championship reigns can be.
John Cena – WWE Champion (2006–2007)
Cena reclaimed the WWE Championship in a brutal Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match against Edge at Unforgiven in late 2006. This victory marked the beginning of a 380-day reign, during which Cena defended the title against a variety of challengers, including Umaga, Shawn Michaels, and Missouri’s own Randy Orton.
What made this reign particularly significant—and what draws parallels to Rhodes' current run—was the mixed crowd reaction. Cena, like Rhodes, was positioned as the company's top babyface, yet segments of the audience rejected him. Rhodes has navigated similar waters more successfully, maintaining his connection with fans despite the "cool heel" appeal of opponents like The Rock and Cena himself.
CM Punk – WWE Champion (2011–2013)
CM Punk's second WWE Championship reign began at Survivor Series on November 20, 2011, when he defeated Alberto Del Rio. Holding the title for 434 days, Punk's reign is one of the longest in modern WWE history. Throughout his tenure, he defended the championship against top contenders like Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, and John Cena.
The real story behind Punk's run was his constant friction with management—despite being champion, he rarely main-evented PPVs, with Cena's non-title feuds often taking precedence. This created the "voice of the voiceless" persona that resonated so deeply with fans. Rhodes, by contrast, has been fully embraced by the corporate structure—his story is about fulfilling his destiny rather than fighting the system.
Rhodes' championship run has been defined by its narrative consistency—the completion of a story that began when he left WWE in 2016. His journey back to the company, his initial WrestleMania defeat, and his ultimate triumph created a hero's journey that resonated with fans accustomed to stop-start pushes and abandoned storylines.
What sets Rhodes apart from many past champions is how he's merged the old-school championship prestige approach.
As WrestleMania 41 approaches, the question isn't just whether Rhodes will retain his championship, but whether his reign—regardless of its length—has already secured its place alongside these historic title runs. The answer, as with all things in professional wrestling, will ultimately be determined by the story that continues to unfold this weekend in Las Vegas.
