John Cena vs Cody Rhodes Was The Cena Farwell Match We Have Been Waiting For

John Cena and Cody Rhodes put on an instant classic as SummerSlam, and it was the Cena Farwell Tour match we have been waiting for

WWE presented the 2025 edition of SummerSlam live over the two nights of August 2nd and 3rd from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The main event of the second night saw John Cena put his WWE Championship on the line against Cody Rhodes. The rivalry started at Elimination Chamber last year when Cena turned heel against Rhodes. The two squared off at WrestleMania 41, where Cena defeated Rhodes to win his record-setting 17th championship. The rivalry and Cena’s heel run received a lot of backlash over the lack of direction and sudden disappearance of The Rock and Travis Scott, with whom Cena had aligned himself with for his heel turn. The match these two put on at SummerSlam was what the Cena retirement tour was all about. Meaningful matches that delivered in the ring. Let’s break down what made this match stand out from the others on the retirement tour.

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Cody and Cena Delivered a Memorable Match: The Breakdown

There Was No Outside Interference

The match was contested under Street Fight rules. This means that at any time, anyone could interfere in the match, with the referee unable to stop the contest.

Although it was a very slim chance that the Rock and/or Travis Scott were going to make it to MetLife Stadium, there could have been other interference. Many fans speculated that Cody would turn heel in the match in order to win the title back by any means necessary. There was more speculation that Cena’s face turn on SmackDown 48 hours earlier was just a rouse to try and get one back over on Cody with the title on the line.

However, none of the above scenarios played out in the match. Although the match was held under no disqualification rules, the extent of the street fight stipulation started and ended with the use of weapons (and some brawling in the crowd).

This kept the match and the eventual finish clean and made Cody look like a megastar in pinning Cena cleanly in the ring with no outside interference from either party. It gave both competitors room to just focus on the match itself without having to time anything out for run-ins. It kept the crowd engaged with the action from start to finish, and based on the reactions from the stadium, the crowd was entertained from start to finish.

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The Street Fight Spots Weren’t Overdone

Although the match spilled outside the ring and saw the use of chairs, tables, crutches, stairs, and more, the weapon use did not feel overused. The story of Cena’s heel character antics driving Cody to demand a street fight was well told without the violence overshadowing the match.

The spots gave the crowd something extra to react to and made the match feel more intense and high-stakes. It added to the dramatic build-up of Cena trying to get out of the match, only for Cody to finally get his hands on him. They were able to tell a compelling story of back-and-forth action without any blood or crazy weapon spots. It felt like a well worked brawl as opposed to a full blown hardcore match. Although there is nothing wrong with a full blown hardcore match, this rivalry did not call for it, and it is not the main style for either wrestler. The weapons added enough drama and opportunities for creative spots without taking away from the core story of the match.

It Tested Cody’s Character

Cody has been a babyface since his return to the WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. There was a lot of talk going into this match on whether he would walk out of New Jersey as a heel for the first time in his current WWE run. His ultra babyface character was tested in the build-up to the match.

During the contract signing, Cody had the chance to attack Cena with the title belt. His hesitation ended up costing him as Cena got the better of the exchange. Cody had the chance to take Cena out, but instead opted to stay true to who he is during the contract signing.

Cody’s character was tested again during the match. After many kickouts from Cena, he resorted to taking the bottom rope off the ring post and using it as a weapon against Cena. He did not seem comfortable with the extreme lengths to take down Cena, but he knew it was the only way he could win the match and regain the World Championship. In the end, Cody walked out as the babyface with Cena's approval to carry the torch of the WWE to the next era. Based on the buildup and some of the spots in the match, however, a very different story could have been told that would not have seen Cody walking out as a babyface. This added an extra layer of drama to the match as the title was on the line, but so was Cody’s integrity. The additional drama made the match that much more enjoyable.

He Let the WWE Fans Know It Is Cody’s Time

For years, WWE fans have watched Cena enter the ring with the lyrics of his entrance music, “Your time is up my time is now”. For years Cena dominated the top of the WWE card, winning a record setting 17 World Championships. He was the face of WWE for many years and headlined numerous pay-per-views.

As Cody went for the double Cross-Rhodes to win the match, he gave Cena a salute, much like Cena has done every time he has entered the arena for over 15 years.

After the win, Cena raised Cody’s hand and hugged him as the two exchanged words in the center of the ring. Although it is not known what Cena said to Cody, it felt very much like Cena was passing on the torch of top WWE babyface to Cody. Although it is not Cena’s last match with the WWE, it was by far the most sentimental moment of his farewell tour.

It Could Have Gone Either Way

The match consisted of many false finishes and near falls as Cody and Cena kicked out of each other’s finishing moves time and time again. It took Cody hitting a reverse cutter off the top rope through a table into two Cross-Rhodes to bring the World Championship back in his grasp. He kicked out of many AAs, including one from the second rope.

The lack of outside interference made it believable that any finisher could have finished the match at any second. The brawling street fight elements also made it feel that a well placed shot from a chair, title belt, or other objects could end the match at any second. The live crowd reacted as if the match was over multiple times in the near 40 minute matchup.

The back-and-forth exchanges of the match and the feeling that either man could win made this Cena’s most compelling match of his farewell run. The opponents felt evenly matched, and the anyone can win atmosphere of the match added to the excitement of the duel between the two.

Cody and Cena Gave Us the Farewell Match We Wanted: In Conclusion

Cena’s heel turn and subsequent run with the WWE Championship left a lot to be desired. The disappearance of The Rock and Travis Scott, who were key to his heel turn, did not leave a good impression on the many fans who had high hopes for Cena’s heel run. This match brought out the best in the two performers and left an impression on all who watched.

Both men left everything they had in the ring. The match, keeping clean of outside interference, the test of Cody’s babyface character, the passing of the torch moment, the memorable but not overdone street fight spots, and the back and forth nature of the contest made it a memorable match in the long library of matches for both competitors. If this is the last time Cena and Cody square off in the ring, they gave the fans a memorable matchup that will be rewatched for years to come.

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