Wrestlemania 41 - live: Updates and results from night two in Vegas as John Cena beats Cody Rhodes
John Cena cheated to beat Cody Rhodes and win a record 17th world title on night two in Las Vegas
The second night of WrestleMania 41 is reaching its conclusion, after night one saw plenty of twists and title changes.
On Saturday at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium, Paul Heyman betrayed CM Punk and Roman Reigns in their main-event triple threat, siding with Seth Rollins and ensuring him victory. Elsewhere, Jey Uso finally won a world title by submitting Gunther, Jacob Fatu dethroned US Champion LA Knight, and Tiffany Stratton retained her world championship against rival Charlotte.
There were other fun matches and results, too, before Sunday opened with Iyo Sky’s successful world-title defence in a thrilling triple threat, as she overcame Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. Drew McIntyre then beat rival Damian Priest, before Dom Mysterio won the Intercontinental Title and Randy Orton beat surprise opponent Joe Hendry.
Becky Lynch returned to become a tag-team champion after Logan Paul defeated AJ Styles, before Stone Cold Steve Austin emerged to deafening cheers.
All that was left was the main event, as the villainous John Cena cheated to beat Cody Rhodes and win a record 17th world title – with the help of rapper Travis Scott, in a bizarre scene. You can re-live WrestleMania 41 below:
WrestleMania 41: John Cena breaks title record with win over Cody Rhodes
Rhodes drags himself up the ramp and out of the stadium. Then Scott departs, leaving Cena alone in the ring.
Cena’s music fades out, and he raises the belt. He mocks the fans for chanting, “You deserve it,” and, “Thank you, Cena.”
He then straps the title on backwards, so it’s the last thing people see as he slowly makes his way up the ramp and out of the stadium.
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Travis Scott’s song “Fe!n” plays, and the rapper emerges!
For context, he was there with The Rock when Cena turned heel in February. Essentially, Cena, Rock and Scott (for some reason) are meant to be a villainous trio.
Scott makes his way to the ring and drags the ref out of it to save Cena from being pinned!
Scott now faces off with Rhodes, who hits the rapper with a Cross Rhodes! Big cheers here.
Cena then tries to sneak up on Rhodes and hit him with the belt, but Cody takes it from him... and now Cena plays the victim, pleading with Rhodes not to use it himself!
Rhodes pauses, Cena kicks him in the nuts, and the former champ strikes Cody with the belt after all!
The ref crawls back into the ring, and 1, 2, 3! CENA WINS, NEW CHAMPION, RECORD BREAKER!
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Some boos as Rhodes seeks a Cross Rhodes, but he’s reversed into an AA anyway, and Cena follows up with the STF!
Cody crawls to the rope, but Cena drags him back. Cody kicks him away but Cena crashes into the ref... who’s not there to count a three from a Cross Rhodes!
With the ref down, nonsense is surely about to ensue...
Yep! The new heel Cena takes the padding off the turnbuckle and throws Cody into it face-first! He hits an AA, and the ref is back up...
But Cody kicks out! Cena looks desperate...
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
This time Cena nails the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but his AA is reversed, and Rhodes climbs the top turnbuckle. Cena shakes the rope, though, and Rhodes falls in the corner.
Cena climbs, he’s seeking an AA from the top rope, and he gets it! 1, 2, NO! Rhodes kicks out, and Cena looks worried.
The former champ climbs the top turnbuckle and leaps at Rhodes, who catches him with a powerbomb! Now it’s Cena who kicks out at two!
Rhodes with another Cody Cutter, but this time from the top rope not the middle one, and Cena gets his shoulder up in the nick of time!
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Oh, a tornado DDT by Cena in the corner, from the middle rope!
He then hits his trademark shoulder tackles, beginning his “five moves of doom”, but he’s doing them much more slowly than usual – he used to do them with speed and explosivity.
He smirks at the crowd, before lining up the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Rhodes kicks him and hits a scoop slam. Big dropkick now.
Cody Cutter for a two count. Now it’s Rhodes cycling through his trademark offence.
Cena’s turn to reverse! He tries an STF but is denied, before scoring a two count off an Attitude Adjustment!
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Cena drops Cody with a big right hand and proceeds to stomp on him repeatedly. We’re finally seeing Cena wrestle as a heel, for the first time in over 20 years.
He taunts the crowd, too. This is great.
It’s interesting seeing Cena use a different move selection, one example being a headlock to kill time, before Rhodes escapes and lands some punches.
Cena gets back on top with a side slam, though. He then climbs the turnbuckle and taunts Rhodes before hitting a jumping axe-handle. And again. He tries a third time, but he’s countered, and Cody fires off more punches.
Quite a few boos for Rhodes, before Cena gets his momentum back to the sound of cheers. He’s hammering the champ with axe-handles on the mat.
More duelling Cena chants.
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Honestly, mixed reactions for both wrestlers! We already have the duelling “Let’s go, Cena!” / “Cena sucks!” chants, while there are some fans singing Cody’s name to the tune of Daddy Cool, ha.
This one should be really interesting. Here we go.
Cody hits a shoulder tackle early, and Cena rolls out of the ring to compose himself. He spies Cody’s family at ringside and glares at them.
Back in the ring, Cody outprapples Cena, who forces a rope break and shouts, “Get off me!” before the ref separates them. Cena again steps outside to buy time.
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Cena is out first, for his final ever WrestleMania. A different entrance from the former hero; the screens are black except for white text in block capitals: “John Cena”.
He slowly walks to the ring as the crowd sings “John Cena sucks” to his signature music.
And here comes Cody, the usually beloved champion, who is facing some boos tonight; while Cena is the villain, a lot of fans would love to see him break the record tonight.
Cody greets his wife, daughter and mum at ringside, then enters the ring.
WrestleMania 41: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes
Right, then. All that’s left is the main event: a villainous John Cena aims to win a record 17th world title, as he challenges Cody Rhodes.
Cena has vowed to leave the WWE with the title later this year, which is his final year as a pro wrestler.
Here’s how we got here, as told by Greg Evans:
How John Cena, WWE’s greatest hero, became wrestling’s most complex villain
WrestleMania 41: Stone Cold Steve Austin emerges!
GLASS SHATTERS ON THE SPEAKERS! It’s Stone Cold Steve Austin!
The biggest cheer of the night? Possibly!
Austin emerges on a quad bike, drives it to the ringside area and crashes it (kind of) into the barrier, before entering the squared circle.
He announces tonight’s attendance as over 63,000, before pretending to count every fan. He stops at 19, and makes his exit!
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