The March 17, 2025, episode of Monday Night Raw delivered a moment that had the WWE Universe buzzing worldwide. In a shocking turn, 16-time world champion John Cena returned to the squared circle, but not in his usual heroic fashion. Instead, the Leader of the Cenation unleashed a scathing verbal assault on the WWE Universe, leaving the crowd in stunned silence—until Cody Rhodes stepped in to confront him.
As the familiar sound of “The Time is Now” blasted through the arena, fans erupted in cheers. Cena, donning his signature “Never Give Up” gear, sprinted down the ramp with his usual energy, but something was different. When he entered the ring, the cheers slowly faded as Cena’s demeanor darkened.
With a microphone in hand, Cena surveyed the crowd before shaking his head in disappointment. “You all make me sick,” he began, his voice filled with bitterness. The audience, initially confused, reacted with a mix of boos and gasps.
For the next few minutes, Cena delivered one of the most venomous promos of his career. He accused the WWE Universe of being fickle, claiming they had turned their backs on him the moment he started appearing less frequently. “You cheered for me when I was here every single night, busting my ass for YOU! But the second I stepped away, you all moved on like I never existed.”
He pointed at the fans in the front row. “You people are the same ones who booed me when I was on top, and now you chant my name just because I show up once in a while? You’re all hypocrites!”
The once-cheering crowd had fully turned against Cena, raining down boos. But Cena wasn’t finished. He turned his attention to the locker room, calling today’s superstars “soft” and claiming none of them could fill his shoes. “This generation? They don’t have what it takes. They want everything handed to them! I built this place on hard work, and now you all bow down to guys who haven’t earned it.”
Then, the arena exploded as Kingdom hit, signaling the arrival of Cody Rhodes. Dressed in a sharp suit, the American Nightmare marched to the ring, shaking his head in disbelief. Grabbing a mic, Cody stood face-to-face with Cena and took a deep breath before responding.
“John, with all due respect, what the hell is wrong with you?” Cody asked, his voice filled with passion. “You were the standard-bearer of WWE for two decades, but now you’re out here whining because the world moved on? That’s what’s supposed to happen! You paved the way, and now it’s our time to walk it.”
Cena smirked, but Cody didn’t let up. “You say we haven’t earned it? John, I fought my way back here, just like you did years ago. And I didn’t do it by tearing people down—I did it by rising above.”
The two men locked eyes in an intense staredown before Cena finally dropped his mic and walked away, leaving Cody standing tall as Raw went off the air.
