John Cena helped Cody Rhodes win the WWE Undisputed title at WrestleMania and left him with one crucial piece of advice.
Rhodes is celebrating becoming the new champion at WrestleMania XL, ending the reign of Roman Reigns after more than 1,300 days.
He did so with more than a little help from wrestling legends The Undertaker and John Cena, both of whom appeared in the main event to even the odds for Rhodes after The Bloodline looked to have left Reigns victorious.
While The Undertaker made a sharp exit from the ring, presumably to avoid being involved in the kind of celebratory scenes that would seem out of place for his character, Cena was more than happy to stay and party.
He joined the likes of LA Knight, new Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayna and WWE chief Triple H at Rhodes’ side to help him take in his phenomenal success.
As a 16-time world champion in his own right, Hollywood star Cena is more uniquely qualified to offer a viewpoint from the title holder’s perspective, and Cena has since revealed he did exactly that in the moments after the final bell.
Speaking on the Pat McAfee show in the wake of WrestleMania, he revealed exactly what he said to a joyous Rhodes by way of advice – imparting six key words of wisdom in particular about what lies ahead for the Georgian native.
He explained: “When I got to embrace him, he had the championship in his right hand.
“I said: ‘Do you feel that?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you feel how heavy it is?’ ‘Yes.’
“I said: ‘It will get heavier every day.’”
Cena, who this week himself achieved yet another incredible WWE milestone of wrestling matches in consecutive years, added that he has high hopes for Rhodes sitting in WWE’s top seat.
He continued: That is the burden you bear trying to craft the path to being the greatest of all time.
“I hope – and this should be the goal for the business – every performer should pass the torch up.
“I hope a year from now, two years from now, three years from now, we can all sit here and be an advocate that Cody Rhodes is the greatest of all time.
“That’s the way it should work.”
Fans here in the UK and Ireland won’t have too long to wait to see the new WWE Undisputed Champion in action up close.
Rhodes confirmed on X that he’ll be joining the roster travelling overseas for a tour that kicks off next week.
After Monday’s Raw in Montreal, Canadia WWE touch down in England for a show in Birmingham on April 17th, before further dates in Cardiff, London and Belfast.
Scot Drew McIntyre will likely be involved, too, after winning the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania– only to lose it minutes later.