WWE WrestleMania 41 Results: John Cena Defeats Cody Rhodes To Win Record 17th World Championship

WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, Nevada
WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, Nevada / WWE.com

It was another exciting evening of action on WWE WrestleMania 41 Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

History was made as John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to win a record-setting 17th World title, which breaks the tie with him and Ric Flair for most World title victories.

While The Rock did not appear, Travis Scott interfered to give Cena enough of a boost to help him when the championship. Cena used the "by any means necessary" motto to score the win, as he kicked Rhodes below the belt and used the title to finish off the former champion.

Meanwhile, there were other significant developments, including Becky Lynch returning to team with Lyra Valkyria to win the Women's Tag Team Championships.

Here's everything you need to know about what unfolded on WrestleMania 41 Night 2.


WrestleMania 41 Night 2 Pre-Show Highlights

- WWE didn't acquire any new companies as it did with the stunning AAA announcement on WrestleMania Saturday, so it was a less noteworthy pre-show.

- In injury news, Rey Mysterio confirmed that he suffered a torn groin on SmackDown. He was replaced by Rey Fenix on WrestleMania 41 Night 1, with El Grande Americano scoring the win against Fenix.

- We did learn that Dude Wipes is the official sponsor for Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker match for the Intercontinental Championship. As the advertisement says, which dude will wipe the floor with the others?


WrestleMania 41 Night 2 Main Card

- Ava Max sings the National Anthem to kick off the show.

- And it's Stephanie McMahon in the ring to welcome everyone to WrestleMania. In an early contender for best stat, Wade Barrett notes it is Michael Cole's 28th WrestleMania as an announcer. That's incredible.

- Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair vs. IYO SKY in a Triple Threat Match for the Women's World Championship is the opener. Who will walk out with the title? In a cool moment, Belair's stepdaughter is one of the featured entertainers on the stage for her entrance.

- A chaotic start with all three women landing big moves. Belair stacks Ripley and SKY in the corner, but SKY reverses momentum with a double blockbuster for a two count. Then Ripley hits a cannonball on Belair on the outside, and SKY flies onto Ripley.

- Belair with an impressive power sequence with three suplexes on SKY, and the action goes back outside where Belair and Ripley throw SKY into the barricade. Ripley throws SKY into Belair and it's another two count.

- SKY runs wild with corner attacks on both Ripley and Belair, and then SKY goes up top but Ripley meets her there. Belair climbs up, and a combination of suplexes sends all three to the mat. SKY gets the fan on their feet, but Belair quiets them with a huge spear to the champion.

- Ripley hits the Riptide on Belair for a near fall. Ripley with a big kick to SKY, but SKY counters the Riptide off the top. Another counter from Ripley after SKY goes for her finisher, and then Belair hits the KOD on Sky....but Ripley breaks up the pin at two! Just fantastic.

- Belair slaps Ripley in the face and tells her she works harder than her. But it's Ripley who regains control as she knocks Belair to the outside, and then Ripley throws SKY into the top of the ring post.

- IYO SKY defeats Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair to retain the Women's World Championship. Ripley goes for the Riptide on Belair, but Belair uses the braid to counter and Belair hits the KOD. However, SKY hits the Over the Moonsault onto both and she pins Belair to retain. What a match!

- Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight is up next. Can McIntyre get his revenge for what Priest did to him one year ago at WrestleMania 40? McIntyre with the Doom entrance, while Priest is played to the ring by Kerry King of Slayer.

- They brawl to the outside to start the match, which includes McIntyre hitting a suplex on the steel ramp. Priest answers by throwing the steel steps right into McIntyre's face. Priest pulls out a table from under the ring, and business is about to pick up.

- McIntyre returns the favor by destroying Priest with the steel steps. To add insult to injury, McIntyre takes his brother's cell phone and takes a selfie by Priest. Classic McIntyre! He brings more tables to the party much to the excitement of the fans in attendance.

- McIntyre flies over the top rope onto Priest on the outside. McIntyre puts a chair on Priest's head to try to finish him, but Priest hits a chokeslam for a near fall. Great point by the commentary team that Priest was going for the South of Heaven, but he didn't get all of it.

- McIntyre gets back on track with a spinebuster, and he sets up a table in the middle of the ring. However, Priest hits a Razor's Edge off the top through the table....but McIntyre kicks out at two!

- Drew McIntyre defeats Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight. McIntyre with a Future Shock DDT on the steel steps, but Priest kicks out. They exchange punches and Priest goes up top for Old School, but McIntyre shoves him to the outside through two tables. McIntyre then hits a Claymore with a chair on Priest's face in the corner for the victory. Another good match.

- Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Bron Breakker in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the Intercontinental Championship is next. Can Breakker hold off three hungry contenders to retain the title?

- There's teamwork in the early going from Balor and Dominik, but we know that may not be a long-term thing in this type of match. Penta showcases his aerial skill with a dive to the outside onto Balor and Dominik, and in comes Breakker with another ridiculous display of athleticism to take out Penta.

- Breakker spears Dominik, but Balor breaks up the pin at two. Penta uses the Sacrifice on Balor, and Breakker picks up both of them for a double German suplex. The man is on another level. Breakker goes for the spear on Penta, but he moves out of the way.

- Dominik takes control of the match, and the fans are behind him. Carlito shows up at ringside, so that means trouble for one of the Judgment Day members. Breakker with a double suplex in case you weren't already wowed by his power.

- Balor sends Breakker and Penta out of the ring, so Dominik puts Balor in position for the 619. However, Balor snaps and stomps a mudhole in Dominik. Penta goes for the pin on Balor, but Breakker breaks up the count.

- Carlito pulls the rope down to send Breakker to the outside, and then Penta hits a Mexican Destroyer on Dominik, but Carlito breaks up the pin. And then Breakker takes aim...and jumps from one announce table to another and spears Carlito through the table!

- Back inside the ring, and Breakker hits the spear on Penta. Then Dominik hits the 619 on Breakker, but Balor pulls Dominik off the top. We knew these two were going to be each other's biggest enemy in this match.

- Dominik Mysterio defeats Bron Breakker, Penta, and Finn Balor to win the Intercontinental Championship. Balor with the slingbade on Breakker, and Balor hits the Coup de Grace...but Dominik hits a Frog Splash onto both men and pins Balor for the win. Dirty Dom is the new champ! What a reaction from the crowd, as they're all in on Dominik's achievement.

- The Randy Orton Open Challenge is next. Is it about to be Rusev Day at WrestleMania 41? Or will someone else step up?

- Orton grabs the mic and says it's his 20th WrestleMania, and he's gonna give the person who comes through the curtain their WrestleMania moment. Say his name and he appears...it's TNA Champion Joe Hendry. That's quite a surprise.

- Randy Orton defeats Joe Hendry. Orton goes for the RKO right off the bat, but Hendry counters into a near fall. Back and forth, and it's a similar sequence where Hendry fights away the RKO attempt. However, his decision to smile into the camera doesn't work out for him, as it's an RKO outta nowhere from Orton for the win. New TNA champ! Just kidding.

- After the match, Orton helps Hendry to his feet and raises his arm to the crowd. Orton then hits another RKO for good measure. Of course he did. The camera zooms in on Orton, and he does the signature Hendry turn. Great stuff.

- WWE announces that Money in the Bank will take place on June 7 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

- AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul is next. Could the winner be a possible upcoming contender for Jey Uso and the World Heavyweight Championship?

- Paul decides to jump over the top onto Styles on the outside, but Styles uses the ring skirt to counter. That was a unique touch. Styles throws Paul into the barricade, but Paul regains the advantage by jumping over the top onto Styles. Then Paul uses the apron to get back at Styles. Also, here's another angle of the Orton RKO on Hendry.

- Paul hits a huge splash off the top but Styles kicks out at two. Paul showboats a bit, and the overbomb gets another near fall as Styles grabs the rope. Paul's cockiness gets the best of him, and Styles isn't having it.

- Even more boasting from Paul as Styles drops him with a knee to the back of the neck. Styles hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Styles goes for the Styles Clash, but Paul gets out of it. Styles then goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Paul catches him with a rolling senton and Lionsault for a near fall. Awesome sequence there.

- Paul with the slingshot lariat and he gets a near fall. Styles picks up Paul with a spinning suplex for another near fall. Styles goes off the top but Paul gets his knees up. Paul then insults Styles by hitting the Styles Clash, but Styles then hits a Styles Clash of his own.

- Logan Paul defeats AJ Styles. Jeff, one of Paul's entourage members, sneaks behind the apron with brass knuckles. Karrion Kross takes them away Jeff, and Styles throws Jeff into the barricade. Kross pleads for Styles to listen to him and to use the brass knuckles. Styles throws them away and hits Kross with a hard right. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Paul hits the Paulverizer for the victory.

- Lyra Valkyria and a mystery partner vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women's Tag Team Championships is up next. Is Becky Lynch about to make her WWE return?

- She is! What a reaction from the crowd as The Man is back to team with the Women's Intercontinental Champion. The expression from Liv and Raquel tells the story.

- Liv wants no part of Becky to start the match, so Raquel steps in. Liv joins the action once Valkyria is in, and the champions isolate her in their corner of the ring. Raquel hits a hard slam, and then Liv comes in with a kick to Valkyria.

- Valkyria tries to make the tag to Becky, but Liv pulls Becky off the apron. Raquel hits a big boot to Becky to give the champs the advance once again. Valkyria fights back and posts Raquel, and she finally gets the hot tag to Becky and takes it to Liv and Raquel.

- Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria defeat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to win the Women's Tag Team Championships. Becky hits the Bexsploder and hits a baseball slide to Liv on the outside. Becky locks in the Disarm-Her on Liv, but Raquel makes the save. Liv hits Oblivion on Becky, but it's Valkyria who makes the save. Valkyria takes out Raquel, and Becky hits the Manhandle Slam on Liv for the victory. New champs!

- Stone Cold Steve Austin has arrived on a four-wheeler! He actually runs into the LED screen, and one of the fans in the front row doesn't seem too happy about it. Austin announces the attendance of 63,226 for WrestleMania 41 Night 2. He starts counting fans one by one but eventually says that's bullshit. The total announced attendance for both nights is 124,693.

- John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship is the main event. Will "The Final Boss" return to crown Cena as his Corporate Champion?

- They embrace the crowd reaction from the start, with dueling chants for both Cena and Rhodes. The champion hits a dive to the outside onto Cena, but the frustration grows in Cena as he turns up the aggression.

- Cena stays on offense for a bit, and he hits a sideslam for a two count. Cena embraces his confidence and uses a methodical approach. Rhodes tries to fight back, but Cena rakes him in the eyes. What a heel.

- Cena hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Shoulder tackle from Cena, and he just seems amused at himself at this point. However, Rhodes gives Cena a thumb to the eye, and now he's firing up. Cody hits the Cody Cutter, but Cena kicks out at two.

- Cena hits the AA for yet another near fall. Cena goes for another AA, but Rhodes counters and then Cena hits a Super AA off the top rope...but Rhodes kicks out at two and a half! Then it's Rhodes who gets a couple of pinfall attempts but Cena won't stay down.

- A third AA from Cena, and he locks in the STFU. Rhodes tries to make it to the ropes and eventually gets out of it, and that leads to a ref bump in the corner. Rhodes hits his finisher, but there's no one to count the pin.

- And it's a fourth AA from Cena after throwing Rhodes into the exposed turnbuckle, but that only gets a two count. Travis Scott comes out on the stage, and Cena sets up Rhodes for Scott, but Rhodes counters into a pin attempt...but Scott pulls the referee out of the ring.

- Rhodes wants a piece of Scott, and they go face to face in the ring. Scott takes a swing at him, but Rhodes hits the Cross Rhodes and he kicks Scott to the outside.

- John Cena defeats Cody Rhodes to win the WWE Undisputed Championship. Cena grabs the title, and Rhodes takes it away and thinks about hitting Cena, but he won't do it. Cena kicks Rhodes in the balls and then he hammers Rhodes with the title to score the victory. Cena stands alone at the top with his 17th World title reign!


WWE WrestleMania 41 Results [Night 2]

IYO SKY defeats Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair to retain the Women's World Championship

Drew McIntyre defeats Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight

Dominik Mysterio defeats Bron Breakker, Penta, and Finn Balor to win the Intercontinental Championship.

Randy Orton defeats Joe Hendry

Logan Paul defeats AJ Styles

Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria defeat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to win the Women's Tag Team Championships.

John Cena defeats Cody Rhodes to win the WWE Undisputed Championship


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Blake Lovell
BLAKE LOVELL

Blake Lovell has worked in the sports media industry for nearly two decades, including covering professional wrestling for various digital outlets since 2019. He is a former editor/columnist for 411Mania and ClutchPoints. You can follow him on X at @wrestleblake for more discussion on wrestling's past, present, and future.