EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—After months of tension and disrespect from John Cena to Cody Rhodes and the WWE fanbase as a whole, the night had arrived. On Friday night, Cena turned back to face Rhodes, which thrilled the fan base. Entering his final SummerSlam with his true music and signature run to the ring, John Cena was truly back.
The match started with a hug between the two men before they exchanged blow after blow to each other’s heads. Rhodes sent Cena into the apron and then Cena sent Rhodes into the stairs. Cena approached Tyrese Haliburton in the stands and took his crutch to slam across Rhodes’ back. Cena struggled to push the stairs into the ring, but failed his attempted Altitude Adjustment (AA). Rhodes slammed Cena on the stairs instead. With Cena throwing Rhodes out of the ring, he then threw the stairs at Rhodes, who looked hurt. Both men were back in the ring and Rhodes managed to pin Cena but could not complete the three-count. As Cena charged at Rhodes, the ‘American Nightmare’ powerbombed Cena, leaving him stunned.
Rhodes crawled his way under the ring, as did Cena, both emerging with steel chairs. Rhodes came out on top of the chair battle and wedged a chair between the ropes, which backfired. Cena then found two shoulders to Rhodes and performed his signature Five Knuckle Shuffle. Rhodes, not one to give up easily, locked in and found himself towering over a limp Cena in the center of the ring. As Rhodes stalked his way over, Cena blindsided him with an AA, which should have put the match the bed. Instead, Rhodes popped up and moonsaulted off the top rope. He then executed a Disaster Kick to Cena, earning another chance. Cena refused to stay down. Cena worked Rhodes onto his shoulders, slamming him into the ring, but could not cover for three.
Rhodes, not willing to surrender, hit Cena with a Piledriver, a banned move in the WWE, as it can paralyze your opponent. Cena, after forcing himself to stand, worked up enough energy to AA Rhodes, leaving both men laying still in the center of the ring. They exchanged punches again before Rhodes attempted to pin Cena again. Immediately following his kick out, Cena forced a submission hold on Rhodes, who did manage to crawl to the ropes, but in this match, that did nothing for him.
Outside of the ring, Cena Viper Bombed Rhodes off the barricade. He then, smiling, cleared off the announcer’s table, placing Rhodes on top. Hoisting Rhodes onto his shoulders, Cena one again performed an AA on Rhodes, this time, through the table. Rhodes appeared unable to move, let alone fight back.
After dragging Rhodes to the center of the ring, Cena tried to pin Rhodes again, who was somehow able to kick out. With Rhodes in the corner, Cena charged at him, but Rhodes dove out of the way, leaving Cena to run straight into the turnbuckles. Rhodes then hit Cena with his Cross Rhodes move, but still could not put Cena’s title reign to sleep. On the top rope, Rhodes was looking to throw Cena, who managed to toss Rhodes and deliver a flying elbow. After yet another AA, Rhodes managed to kick out yet again, by some miracle.
Cena snuck out of the ring, searching for another option, and tossed a table into the ring. Rhodes was able to avoid the punishment Cena was attempting to exact, then trying to use the table to his advantage. Both plans were foiled, with the fight moving to the crowd. Rhodes threw a trash can, Cena slammed him with a fence, and Rhodes threw Cena into the steel fence. Rhodes, the first to get up, began delivering blows to Cena’s head. The two men disappeared beneath the stage, with Cena being brought up on the elevator Rhodes used for his entrance, with Rhodes on his shoulders. Cena, continuing to punish Rhodes, slammed him into the stage. Rhodes was once again on Cena’s shoulders, likely so Cena could complete the pinfall in the ring, as per the rules. Rhodes scrapped his way up, throwing Cena into the previously set up table. He then hit another Cross Rhodes, but could not win. Going for the attack, Rhodes ran towards Cena, who pulled the rope down, sending Rhodes outside the ring. Rhodes hit Cena with a chair and then unwound the turnbuckle to hit Cena in the head.
With the crowd booing, Rhodes hit Cena with the turnbuckle once again. Rhodes went to hit Cena again, who turned the tables on Rhodes, choking him with the rope. Rhodes then reversed, choking Cena with the rope. Both men were on their feet and Cena attempted an AA, but Rhodes reversed to hit Cena with a triple Cross Rhodes. Rhodes, dismayed that Cena kicked out, grabbed the title belt and went back to the ring. Cena caught Rhodes and hit two AAs, threw the title, and threw Rhodes from the top rope, a Super AA. Neither men seemed able to complete the pinfall, no matter how much pain they exacted. Cena brought yet another table into the ring, looking for a Super AA again, but Rhodes was able to Super Cross Rhodes Cena through the table. With Cena unaware of his surroundings, Rhodes hit yet another Cross Rhodes, this time sealing the deal with a full three-count, winning the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Following the match, in true old-school John Cena fashion, Cena picked up the title and handed it to Rhodes, embracing him in a hug before lifting his arm to crown him the champion. Rhodes brought Cena back to the center of the ring, getting the crowd to celebrate him, and left the ring for Cena to have his moment.
With the crowd chanting “thank you, Cena,” he saluted the crowd once again. As Michael Cole was ending the show, Brock Lesnar walked out and stalked his way to the ring. Lesnar and Cena are long-time rivals, so Cena was, understandably, not happy to see the Beast Incarnate. Lesnar ran into the ring after a lengthy staredown, hit Cena with an F5, and began a stare down of the New Jersey crowd.
Cena was left motionless in the ring, without his title, and without his dignity. Leave it to Lesnar to ruin a good time. As Cena began his slow crawl backstage, his music played, but he requested it to pause. Looking out at the crowd, he saluted and gave his heart out to the crowd, ending the first ever two-night SummerSlam.
What’s next for the WWE? The show continues Monday at Barclays Center for Monday Night RAW at 8 p.m.
