Jey Uso is heading to WrestleMania 41 to take on GUNTHER for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That leaves Cody Rhodes looking for a challenger. As the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches begin to take shape, one individual stands out as the right choice to win the Chamber. That is John Cena, and yes, it is because he is retiring at the end of 2025.
During the Royal Rumble post-show presentation, Cena went on a promo reminiscent of his prime days in WWE. At the end of the day, he stood on his point that being in the main event of WrestleMania 41 is what’s “best for business” to coin a term popular in the wrestling world. To get there, he’s going to have to win the Elimination Chamber and that’s a task in its own right.
The qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber have started. CM Punk picked up a win on Monday Night Raw over Sami Zayn. Early predictions are that Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns will take spots in the Elimination Chamber match. Regardless of who the final spots go to, Cena should be a favorite to win. Just as he was a favorite to win the Royal Rumble, but that’s in the past.
For WWE to have Cena for an entire year, recognize the history it would mean for him to not win a 17th title, and not do it – that would be promotional malpractice. WWE always prides itself on “sending fans home happy.” Especially at WrestleMania where the babyfaces on the card tend to have more of the big moments. Putting the title on Cena that allows him to pass Ric Flair for sole ownership of the top spot in history books is something that Triple H and company cannot pass up.
But then there’s the Cody Rhodes part of the equation. Fans know that a heel turn is in the books for Rhodes. He’s almost too good at playing the part to ignore the potential of him being the top heel in wrestling while he’s at the height of his popularity. One way to get him to make the turn would be to have Cena take that title off his waist. Just to see Rhodes do whatever is necessary to take it back. The story almost writes itself and paves the way for what would be an interesting second half of 2025.
John Cena has the potential to make history at some point during his last year as an in-ring performer. He’s right when saying it is “best for business” that he’s in the main event. Will he get there? That’s the story worth telling and watching playing out the next few weeks.