WWE: John Cena’s Verbal Assault on Cody Rhodes: A Classic Promo Battle

[Image Credit: WWE/Netflix]

Last night, John Cena reminded the WWE Universe why he’s one of the greatest talkers in wrestling history. With his signature razor-sharp wit and undeniable presence, Cena unleashed a verbal onslaught on WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, dissecting every facet of Rhodes’ career with brutal precision. From mocking his look and gimmicks to ridiculing his infamous neck tattoo, Cena left no stone unturned. He branded Cody as mediocre, called out his struggles in WWE’s past, and even took a savage jab at his exit from AEW, implying he fleeced Tony Khan for a hefty paycheck. It was a promo that will be remembered for years to come—one of those Cena masterclasses that gets replayed in highlight reels for decades. But surprisingly, the real takeaway from the night wasn’t just Cena’s mic skills; it was how Cody responded.

If we’re being honest, Cena was slightly sharper in this exchange. His ability to structure his words, control the pacing, and land haymakers in the form of quips is nearly unmatched. His line about “building empires for billionaires” and Cody “stealing money from their kids” was a dagger—an instant classic that will be quoted in WWE history books. But make no mistake, Cody Rhodes didn’t just survive—he thrived.

There was a tense moment when Cena initially finished speaking, and the crowd erupted in chants for him while aggressively booing Cody. It could have been disastrous for the reigning champion. A single misstep, a botched line, or even a moment of hesitation could have made the entire arena turn against him. But instead, Cody delivered one of his strongest promo performances ever. Social media exploded with fans praising his resilience and ability to stand toe-to-toe with one of the best talkers in wrestling history. Instead of crumbling, Cody fired back with confidence and conviction.

For years, Cody Rhodes has been the ultimate babyface in WWE, the hero fans were meant to rally behind. However, a vocal section of the audience has viewed him as overly protected, a little too polished—a manufactured top guy rather than an organically beloved one. Some critics have argued that his meteoric rise was fueled more by Roman Reigns’ legendary run as the Tribal Chief than by Cody’s own efforts. But last night proved that Cody isn’t just riding the wave—he’s earning his spot.

Cena did what he does best: eviscerated his opponent with words. But Cody did what so many others before him couldn’t—he fought back effectively. He didn’t just take the abuse; he flipped the script. He reminded Cena that while Vince McMahon chose him, the fans chose Cody. He put Cena on the defensive by suggesting that his departure left WWE in a worse state and drove fans to seek alternatives. And in perhaps his most ruthless retort, he didn’t hold back from using some colorful language, directly calling out Cena’s promo style with an unfiltered jab about what’s inside his jorts. You can see the whole segment below. The exchange was electric, the kind of moment that elevates careers and cements legacies. Cena delivered a Hall of Fame-level promo, but in the end, the night belonged to Cody Rhodes. He walked into a war of words against one of the best ever and didn’t just survive—he proved he belongs in the conversation. In an era where WWE’s biggest stars are often overshadowed by legends of the past, Cody made it clear: he’s not just a byproduct of the Reigns era. He’s the real deal.

Years from now, we’ll look back at this battle as one of the defining moments in Cody’s career. And for fans who have been waiting to see if he truly deserves the top spot in WWE, last night was the answer. He does. You can watch the entire segment below.

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