Cody Rhodes Follows in John Cena’s Footsteps to Claim a Praiseworthy Milestone in 2025

Cody Rhodes has become the WWE Superstar who granted the most wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation this year.

Cody Rhodes Follows in John Cena’s Footsteps to Claim a Praiseworthy Milestone in 2025

Cody Rhodes embracing John Cena after winning the WWE title at SummerSlam (via- WWE)

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WWE has, to a great degree, found its next John Cena-level babyface, and he’s none other than Cody Rhodes. The company was looking to groom the latter as a Cena successor from the point Rhodes agreed to a WWE return in 2022, as recently revealed by Seth Rollins on the Games with Names podcast. Rhodes is actually following in Cena’s footsteps. How’s that so?

As per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion fulfilled the most Make-A-Wishes of any WWE Superstar in 2025. John Cena set the Guinness World Record for granting over 650 wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a feat that he achieved in late 2022.

In fact, the Hollywood mogul put smiles on more such faces even on the day of his final WWE match on December 13. For decades or even longer, ‘The Cenation Leader’ held the fort for WWE to help the company tap into younger demographics, and the Make-A-Wish initiative was a key factor in affecting the lives of thousands of children more positively than ever.

With Cena no longer active as a WWE performer, it’s the turn for someone like Rhodes to take over the baton from him.

‘The American Nightmare’ is mighty popular among kids, and it shows every time he steps into a WWE arena. The online debate of WWE pumping the brakes on Rhodes’ eventual heel turn might go on even longer if he continues to grow on the audience to a point where the fans become immune to booing him.

‘The QB1’ has rarely experienced a semblance of mild jeering from WWE crowds since the moment he came back at WrestleMania 38. In the lead-up to his Mania clash with Cena, there were a couple of stops on the road, one in London and the other in Las Vegas, where it seemed as if the fans had started to turn their backs on ‘The Prodigal Son’. However, Rhodes held his own against Cena on the mic on both occasions to justify the spot he was given.

Cody Rhodes interview after John Cena’s WWE farewell wasn’t scripted

Cody Rhodes got to work with John Cena in two singles matches during the latter’s recently concluded retirement tour. While Cena was on a lopsided villainous arc the first time they went at it, the dynamics completely changed in their second meeting at SummerSlam, by which the 17-time world champion had reverted back to a babyface.

Cody Rhodes reacts to John Cena's WWE retirement
Cody Rhodes reacts to John Cena’s WWE retirement [via- WWE]

Isn’t it poetic that Rhodes was arguably the most emotionally wrecked human being in that arena where Cena retired? ‘The American Nightmare’ stood by the ring as if his heart had completely sunk, staring at the WWE great’s leftover belongings in the ring. Jackie Redmond later caught up with a tear-jerking Rhodes at ringside and tried gently setting him up for an interview.

The son of the late Dusty Rhodes didn’t object to it even though he was fighting back tears in the moment. He tried putting into words what that moment meant to him and an entire generation of wrestling fans. Redmond later confirmed that Rhodes had no idea about that impromptu interview, and she hailed the 40-year-old for being as real about his emotions as he was in that conversation.

Rhodes now has the distinction of being the first person to interview Cena after his WWE farewell match. ‘The Franchise Player’ recently joined Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast and had a bunch of kind words to say for the North Carolina native. Seeing Rhodes tear up after hearing Cena’s opinion of him, the Peacemaker star proceeded to give a warm hug to the ‘American Nightmare’.

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