Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena for WWE Championship at SummerSlam
Despite a spirited effort that evoked memories of a different era, John Cena could not win the big one at Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam, losing the undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes in the street fight main event.
The end came when Rhodes connected on a Cross Rhodes following an avalanche Cody Cutter to pick up the pin and win, regaining the title he lost to Cena at this past April’s WrestleMania.
The two embraced after the match with Rhodes getting visibly emotional with this being Cena’s final SummerSlam before retirement. Cena remained in the ring after Rhodes departed, soaking in “Thank You Cena” chants. That was, until, Brock Lesnar made his surprise return to lay Cena out.
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The story of the match was the resiliency of Cena. Three specific sequences include him kicking out of several consecutive Cross Rhodes, kicking out of being hit with an exposed turnbuckle twice before countering a third attempt into an STFU, and kicking out after being put through a table followed by a Cross Rhodes.
Rhodes was resilient as well, surviving an AA from the Spanish announce table through the English announce table, a top rope leg drop from the top rope into an AA, and being carried on Cena’s back from the “Codyvator” through the stage into an AA on the ramp.
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The beginning of the end was when a desperate Rhodes ran out to grab the title belt, but Cena avoided a shot and hit Rhodes with consecutive AAs and tossed the belt, confirming his turn back to being a face was legit. He then perched Rhodes on the top rope and hit an avalanche AA that Rhodes kicked out of.
Cena then got a table and put Rhodes back on the top rope. Cena went for a second avalanche AA, but Rhodes elbowed him in the face and moved into position for the avalanche Cody Cutter through a table. He then got teary, saluted Cena, hit a Cross Rhodes, and got a pin.
Rhodes’ win begins his second title run and ends the 105-day Cena reign that saw him successfully defend the gold just twice.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.