John Cena Prepares for WWE Championship Defense Against Cody Rhodes

John Cena appears to have had a change of heart just two days before defending his WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at Summerslam in a Street Fight. Cena, who has taken on a villainous role since collaborating with Lock and Travis Scott during the Elimination Chamber event back in February, previously defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 with Scott’s assistance, marking his 17th title reign—the most in WWE history.

During Friday’s “Smackdown,” a packed Prudential Center in Newark witnessed the classic Cena promotion. He expressed gratitude to Rhodes for helping him step away from his “bad guy” persona, stating his intention to leave WWE as a champion, not as someone ruining the sport.

Cena acknowledged that Rhodes’ recent defeat was the wake-up call he needed to rediscover himself, while also hinting at both Rock and Scott during his remarks.

“For 25 years, I’ve built my reputation on honesty and respect. But five months ago, I made a mistake trying to create shocking television. I shocked the wrong way, and now I live with that,” Cena shared. He highlighted an important date on the calendar: August 1, 2025, when he feels he made his return to WWE significant.

As for Rhodes, a smile was all he could muster in response. Nonetheless, fans are well aware that Cena, now 48, is gearing up for a challenging match, which might very well determine the fate of his title.