Cody Rhodes and John Cena’s feud has carried WWE in 2025, but the American Nightmare wanted their first meeting of the year to go very differently.
Cena and Rhodes collide at WWE SummerSlam, a rematch from their WrestleMania 41 main event in April.
Both men appear on WWE: Unreal, the company’s brand-new behind-the-scenes documentary on Netflix, which lifts the lid on the writers’ room.
The Netflix documentary has revealed an incredible pitch Rhodes made for a potential meeting with Cena on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut in January.
Cody Rhodes wanted to ‘save’ John Cena on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut
In WWE: Unreal’s first episode, ‘New Era’, Triple H can be seen talking to fellow writer Jonathan Baeckstrom about their plans for Cena’s first retirement tour appearance.
Triple H revealed Rhodes’ pitch to The Game ahead of Cena’s landmark appearance. “Cody wants to save Cena,” said The Game. “Cody wants everyone to square up to Cena, and Cody f—— run in to make the save.”
However, this did not go down well in the WWE writers’ room for a multitude of reasons. Baeckstrom was worried about the level of heels on the show to go up against Cena and Rhodes.
We don’t have a half a dozen heels who are just… Everybody’s got a story,” said Baeckstrom. “We’re just gonna chuck Judgment Day out there?”
Triple H, meanwhile, was worried the pitch made Cena look weak. “This is the first time we get to see John Cena in a year,” explained The Game.
“And the first time he comes out somebody’s got to save him?” the Chief Content Officer asked. “It just feels off to me.”
The angle never materialised, with both Rhodes and Cena appearing in separate segments on the Los Angeles show.
What did John Cena and Cody Rhodes do on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut?
Instead of saving Cena, Rhodes appeared in a bizarre segment with The Rock on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut.
It received mixed reactions from WWE fans, who thought The Rock might set up a clash with Rhodes after their feud heading into WrestleMania 40.
Instead, The Rock praised Rhodes in a bizarre babyface turn, which also included him shaking hands with Roman Reigns.
Cena cut a promo on the show to announce the start of his retirement tour, as well as announcing himself for the Royal Rumble.