In a stunning turn of events on the morning of March 31, 2025, the WWE Universe witnessed an electrifying showdown on Monday Night RAW in London that has left fans buzzing with speculation. John Cena, the 16-time world champion and newly minted heel aligned with The Rock, faced off against the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, in a highly anticipated confrontation. What unfolded was nothing short of shocking: Cena, a wrestling icon known for his resilience, unexpectedly fell to Rhodes in a dramatic exchange that culminated with Rhodes delivering his signature Cross Rhodes finisher. As the dust settled and Rhodes pointed to the WrestleMania 41 sign, Triple H’s creative fingerprints seemed to hint at a deeper narrative—one that might suggest the “first attacker will lose at WM41.”
The buildup to this moment had been intense. Cena’s heel turn at Elimination Chamber earlier in March, where he betrayed Rhodes and pledged allegiance to The Rock, set the stage for a bitter rivalry. For weeks, Cena had leaned into his new villainous persona, berating the WWE Universe and vowing to dismantle Rhodes’ reign as champion. Meanwhile, Rhodes, the fan-favorite “American Nightmare,” had been unrelenting in his pursuit of retribution, calling out Cena’s transformation and promising to defend the title—and the fans—at all costs. Their face-to-face encounters on RAW in Brussels and Glasgow had been verbal slugfests, with Cena gaslighting Rhodes and the audience while Rhodes stood firm as the embodiment of perseverance. But on March 31, the tension boiled over into physicality, and it was Rhodes who emerged victorious.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Broadcast live on Netflix from London, the morning clash—adjusted for the European time zone—saw Cena enter the ring to a chorus of boos, his once-iconic theme now a trigger for disdain. Rhodes, by contrast, was met with thunderous cheers, the crowd fully behind the champion as he stared down his former idol. The two traded barbs before the fists flew, with Cena initially gaining the upper hand, leveraging his experience to outmaneuver Rhodes. Yet, in a pivotal moment, Rhodes countered an attempted Attitude Adjustment with a burst of agility, setting up the Cross Rhodes that sent Cena crashing to the mat. The pinfall was swift, and the WWE Universe erupted as Rhodes stood tall, his gaze fixed on the looming WrestleMania 41 logo.
What makes this outcome so intriguing is the subtle storytelling at play, likely orchestrated by Triple H, WWE’s head of creative. Throughout the Road to WrestleMania 41, patterns have emerged in how rivalries are structured. One theory gaining traction among fans is that Triple H is planting seeds for a recurring theme: the aggressor who strikes first in these high-stakes encounters may be doomed to fall at the grandest stage of them all. Cena, as the instigator of this feud—having blindsided Rhodes at Elimination Chamber and provoked him repeatedly—fit the role of the “first attacker.” His loss on RAW could be a deliberate clue, suggesting that despite his bravado and alliance with The Rock, Cena’s momentum might falter when it matters most in Las Vegas on April 19-20.
This isn’t the first time Triple H has used RAW as a canvas for long-term storytelling. The March 31 episode also featured other WrestleMania-bound narratives, like the chaotic Women’s World Championship scene involving IYO SKY, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair. But the Cena-Rhodes clash stole the spotlight, not just for its outcome but for what it might foreshadow. Rhodes’ victory wasn’t just a feel-good moment for the fans; it reinforced his status as a champion who thrives under pressure, while Cena’s defeat painted him as a heel whose arrogance could be his undoing. If the “first attacker” theory holds, Rhodes’ resilience might carry him through WrestleMania 41, potentially retiring Cena’s in-ring career on a sour note.
Of course, this is wrestling, and surprises are the name of the game. Cena’s alliance with The Rock adds another layer of complexity—could The Final Boss intervene to shift the odds? Posts on X from fans suggest a split in sentiment, with some believing Cena’s loss was a fluke and others convinced Rhodes is destined to prevail. Triple H’s hint, if intentional, keeps the speculation alive, ensuring that the Road to WrestleMania remains unpredictable. For now, Rhodes stands as the victor of March 31, but whether that translates to glory at WM41 is a question that will keep the WWE Universe on edge for weeks to come.
