WWE WrestleMania 41 results, grades: John Cena wins record 17th world title, ends Cody Rhodes' year-long reign (2025)

John Cena broke the record for all-time world championship victories in professional wrestling on Sunday night when he defeated Cody Rhodes to win the undisputed WWE championship in the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 41. Cena needed the help of musician Travis Scott, a low blow and a shot with the championship belt but ultimately emerged victorious.

Cena entered the event tied with Ric Flair at 16 world title reigns. By beating Rhodes, he now holds the record of 17 world championships in his legendary career.

Becky Lynch also made her WWE return on Sunday, filling in for Bayley to team with Lyra Valkyria and win the women's tag team championships from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. One other new champion was crowned on the night, with Dominik Mysterio outlasting Bron Breakker, Finn Balor and Penta to become intercontinental champion.

WWE WrestleMania 41 Night 2 results, grades

Women's World Championship -- Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair: The early flurry of activity saw Sky get off some quick offense to play into the idea that the champion was sick of being overlooked throughout the build to the match. Even as Ripley and Belair had their own moments of offense, Sky continued to cut them off with explosive offense of her own, including a springboard moonsault to the outside. Belair and Ripley eventually double-teamed Sky outside the ring, sending the champion crashing into the barricade. Ripley then tossed Sky in a Razor's Edge directly into Belair. Momentum continued to swing between all three women, with no one able to maintain control of the match for more than brief moments. Belair hit a 450 splash on Sky, but Ripley broke up the pin and then hit Belair with Riptide for a two count. Shortly thereafter, Ripley went for Riptide on Sky from the second rope, but Sky countered with a rana. Ripley got her feet up to block an Over the Moonsault, sending Sky crashing into Belair, who hit a K.O.D. only for Ripley to break up the pin. Ripley countered out of a K.O.D., Belair countered out of Riptide and whipped Ripley with her braid and hit the K.O.D., but as she went for the pin, Sky came off the top rope with an Over The Moonsault to pin Belair and retain the title. A very fun match that saw every woman shine and the right person leave (still) with the championship. Result: Iyo Sky (c) def. Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair via pinfall to retain the title -- Grade: A

Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest (Sin City Street Fight): The action immediately spilled to the outside with Priest and McIntyre brawling around ringside. Priest involved the ring steps, sliding them into the ring and also sliding a table under the ropes before McIntyre cut him off. McIntyre grabbed another set of stairs and hit Priest with them several times. McIntyre then took a cell phone from his brother, who was seated at ringside, and took a selfie with his downed foe. McIntyre then grabbed a pair of tables from under the ring and set them up at ringside before being cut off by Priest. Priest threw a chair at McIntyre's face but McIntyre avoided the impact and hit Priest with a Claymore for a two count. After McIntyre hit Priest several times with the chair and wrapped it around Priest's neck, Priest hit a chokeslam to counter a second Claymore (with the chair still around his neck). After more back-and-forth, Priest launched McIntyre through a table with a Razor's Edge. McIntyre fought back, gouging Priest's eyes and hitting a Future Shock DDT on the ring steps that had been thrown in the ring earlier. After Priest won an exchange of strikes, he attempted to walk the top rope in tribute to Undertaker's Old School maneuver but McIntyre shoved him from the rope through two tables McIntyre had earlier set up at ringside. McIntyre then put Priest's head between the top two turnbuckles and against a chair before delivering a match-ending Claymore. This match was two big men delivering big strikes and leading to a nasty finish that saw Priest take a big fall and then eat a violent Claymore. It's hard to have wanted much more than what the two gave. Result: Drew McIntyre def. Damian Priest via pinfall -- Grade: B+

Intercontinental Championship -- Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio: Balor and Mysterio worked together to knock Breakker from the ring early, but Penta quickly took the two out before a big dive onto the Judgment Day members. As Penta celebrated, Breakker came flying over both Mysterio and Balor to shoulder block Penta. Breakker then took out Penta and Balor back in the ring before a spear on Mysterio, though Balor broke up the pin. Penta was setting Balor up for a Penta Driver but Breakker grabbed Penta from behind, turning the situation into a double German suplex. Mysterio got himself back in the mix, hitting a few suplexes on Penta before a double-team suplex with Balor. As the pair tried to double suplex Breakker, Breakker turned it into his own suplex on both men. A Breakker Frankensteiner on Balor led to a near fall seconds later. With Balor vulnerable, Mysterio delivered a dropkick to the back and attempted a 619 but Balor caught him and delivered a series of stomps to his teammate. Penta then caught Balor in a Penta Driver but the pin was broken up by Breakker. Mysterio nearly won with a roll-up on Penta after Carlito pulled down the top rope to send Breakker crashing to the floor. Carlito again intervened to break up a Penta pin on Mysterio before Breakker speared him through the commentary desk. Breakker hit a spear on Penta and left himself open for Mysterio to kick him in the back and hit a 619. Before Mysterio could hit a frog splash, Balor knocked him from the top rope before hitting a Coup de Grace. As Balor covered, Mysterio came off the top rope with a frog splash and covered Balor for the win. WWE multi-man matches tend to be very similar in pacing but this was a fun one and with a good finish that sets up stories within Judgment Day going forward. Result: Dominik Mysterio def. Finn Balor, Penta and Bron Breakker via pinfall to win the title -- Grade: B+

Randy Orton's Open Challenge: Orton called for someone from the back and vowed to give them their WrestleMania moment. The challenge was answered by TNA world champion Joe Hendry. Orton went for an immediate RKO and was caught in a roll-up by Hendry for a two count. Hendry grabbed Orton's throat, looking for a chokeslam, which was met by Orton looking incredulous before delivering an eye poke. Hendry managed to come back after a draping DDT to hit a fallaway slam. Hendry then spun to the camera to pose only for Orton to fly in with an RKO for the finish. After the match, Orton helped Hendry to his feet and hyped him up, pointing at the crowd and raising Hendry's hand before hitting another RKO. It was nice for Hendry to get a little moment on the biggest stage of them all but his answering Orton's challenge wasn't a great WrestleMania surprise. The match was also very short, which is fine, but not what we would have gotten if Kevin Owens hadn't had to pull out of the event. Result: Randy Orton def. Joe Hendry via pinfall -- Grade: B-

AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul: Paul and Styles jockeyed for position before Paul gave Styles a shove in the corner. Styles responded by quickly outwrestling Paul, including pulling the ring apron out to catch Paul leaping to the outside and delivering a series of strikes and then a sliding knee to the face. Paul managed to grab some control back by slamming Styles into the ringpost and then hitting a springboard crossbody to the outside. Paul would return the favor with the ring apron, pulling it over Styles' head and choking him with it. Paul connected with a big frog splash for a two count. Paul continued his assault and connected with an Overbomb for another near fall. Paul got cocky with a few jabs, drawing Styles to fire shots back before a moonsault body block nearly got the win for Paul. Paul delivered a series of European uppercuts to drop Styles again but took his eye off the ball and got caught by a big Styles clothesline and then a brainbuster for a two count. Paul caught Styles going for a Phenomenal Forearm and hit a rolling slam and a lionsault for another near fall. After more back-and-forth, Paul hit a buckshot lariat before Styles kicked out of yet another pinfall attempt. Paul countered a Styles springboard 450 by getting his knees up. Paul then hit a Styles Clash but Styles rolled through after the move and hit the move himself. Paul's friend Jeff came to ringside to slide brass knuckles to Paul but was caught by Karrion Kross. Kross then gave the knux to Styles, imploring him to use them on Paul. Styles instead threw the weapon away and punched Kross. Back in the ring, Paul was able to land a right hand on Styles and then hit the Paulverizer to score the victory. Paul once again delivered a good effort and did so with a veteran who was more than capable of walking him through the match. The ending was a bit clunky and that knocks the grade down a touch. Result: Logan Paul def. AJ Styles via pinfall -- Grade: B

Women's Tag Team Championship -- Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria: With Bayley having been attacked and knocked out of the match, Valkyria was on the hunt for a replacement partner and called in a ringer in Lynch. Lynch immediately went on the attack, trying to put Rodriguez in a sleeper before Valkyria tagged in and hit Rodriguez with a series of kicks. The champions grabbed control of the match when Morgan interfered to shove Valkyria off the top rope and into a boot from Rodriguez. The champions then isolated Valkyria in their corner, aided by Lynch being so fired up she ran into the ring and drew the referee's attention. Valkyria was about to break through the isolation and make the tag to Lynch but Morgan pulled Lynch off the apron. Valkyria eventually was able to make the tag after moving out of the way of a Rodriguez shoulder tackle, sending her into the ring post. Lynch then took the fight to Morgan and Rodriguez, hitting big moves, including an exploder suplex on Morgan. Lynch had Morgan locked in the Dis-Arm-Her when Rodriguez broke up the hold. This led to Morgan managing to hit Oblivion on Lynch before Valkyria broke up the pin. After a flurry of activity, Lynch hit the Manhandle Slam on Morgan to score the pin and win the titles. A fine match for what it was, though it was mostly about Lynch returning to action. Result: Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria def. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez via pinfall to win the titles -- Grade: B

Undisputed WWE Championship -- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena: After the bell sounded, Rhodes walked to the center of the ring and pointed at the canvas, daring Cena to meet him there. Rhodes knocked Cena down with a shoulder tackle after a collar and elbow. Cena left the ring for a second time after Rhodes outworked him in another collar and elbow. Rhodes countered a Cena headlock with a leg scissors and a dropkick, this time hitting a suicide dive when Cena left the ring to take a powder yet again. Cena hit a right hand, followed by a headlock and a series of kicks and stomps to finally grab some control of the match. Cena continued his methodical approach, slingshotting Rhodes into the bottom rope and hitting kicks and clotheslines. Cena hit two double axhandles from the second rope before Rhodes countered a third and hit a series of right hands before Cena regained control with a thumb to the eye.

A Cena tornado DDT scored a two count. After Cena shoulder tackles and a slam, he stood over Rhodes ready to bust out a Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Rhodes returned the eye poke. Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter for a near fall. Moments later, Cena exploded into an Attitude Adjustment for another two count. Cena hit his second Attitude Adjustment of the match, this time from the second rope, and again Rhodes was able to kick out. Rhodes hit another Cody Cutter but Cena kicked out to avoid the loss. Cena countered a Cross Rhodes into the third Attitude Adjustment of the match and then locked in the STFU. Rhodes fought out of the hold twice before kicking Cena off and directly into the referee, who was still down and unable to make the count when Rhodes hit Cross Rhodes and had the match won. While Rhodes checked on the referee, Cena ripped the pad off of the top turnbuckle. Cena sent Rhodes into the exposed turnbuckle twice and hit another Attitude Adjustment only for Rhodes to kick out yet again.

Travis Scott's music hit and the musician took a long, slow stroll to the ring, where Cena raised his hand only to be hit by a Cross Rhodes before Scott pulled the referee from the ring. Rhodes called Scott into the ring and Scott tried to land a punch only to be hit by a Cross Rhodes. Cena tried to blindside Rhodes with the WWE championship, but Rhodes caught him and ripped the title away. Rhodes couldn't bring himself to hit Cena with the belt as Cena begged off. Cena then delivered a low blow, hit Rhodes with the belt and scored the pin to win his 17th world championship. The match was not great and was always going to come down to how WWE put together the finish. Scott interfering followed by a very obvious low blow and belt shot finish was just a disappointing way for things to end, especially considering the expectations for an appearance from The Rock. Result: John Cena def. Cody Rhodes via pinfall to win the title -- Grade: C-