Rikishi Praises John Cena’s Leadership After WWE SummerSlam 2025 Loss To Cody Rhodes
Rikishi praises John Cena as a leader when reflecting on his match with Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2025.
John Cena lost his 17th WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2025. Following a sporadic babyface turn, Cena brought intense energy to his match with Cody, exemplifying his two decades as WWE’s top babyface. Nonetheless, Rhodes was able to avenge his loss to Cena at WrestleMania 41. This time, there was mutual respect between both men before and after the event.
Rikishi reviewed WWE SummerSlam on the latest episode of his Off The Top podcast. When discussing the main event of the second night, he praised John Cena as a true leader. He says that Cena doesn’t have an evil chip on his shoulder and has always conducted himself professionally. To Rikishi, this makes him the blueprint for what a top star in professional wrestling should be.
“Big shout out to both Cody and John Cena. I didn’t see Cody winning it, you know? I really didn’t. I feel like the John Cena heel turn, I think he was just getting started, you know what I mean? I mean, his heel turn just caught on fire, because I felt that people knew it was coming to the end. They really didn’t want to, like that heel, when he first turned heel—the evil John Cena. So, I just felt like I probably wouldn’t have let it out that he was going to be the last one. But I guess that’s what you know. That’s what the man’s plan to do, but at the end of the day, you know, that’s a legend right there. That’s an icon. Future Hall of Famer, the man that did it all, held it down for 15 years, you know. My biggest, humble respect and thank you to John Cena. Thank you for being the leader. Thank you for showing those that when you step up in that position, how it’s supposed to be. Carry it with dignity, respect, and honor of the WWE brand, and you as a person, as a professional wrestler. I hope to see you soon, my man. See you down the road. For Cody Rhodes, hey, my man. You got it again. It’s all on your back. Let’s go.
“What a way to pass the torch. Yeah, big shout out. That shows character in this guy. That showed that there’s no evil chip on John Cena’s shoulder. John Cena just did business and passage. Let that be a lesson. Let that be a lesson to all those that when it comes your time, don’t be difficult. It took a lot of people for you to get there. So just remember those that on your way back up.”
John Cena has called Cody Rhodes a wrestling soulmate. Read those comments here.
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