"You're paler than Sting at Starrcade."- Cody Rhodes blasts John Cena with a verbal rant on WWE SmackDown

The master of the microphone, John Cena , met his match as Cody Rhodes took him down verbally and physically on WWE SmackDown .

The intensity for the final segment of the go-home edition of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 41 was high as Cody Rhodes and John Cena met for the final time before their title match on Sunday. However, as the dust settled, Rhodes buried the microphone master at his own game and took him down to make a final statement.

Cody Rhodes and John Cena had a final face-off before WrestleMania 41 on WWE SmackDown

The main event segment of the go-home edition of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 41 featured the final confrontation between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. Before Rhodes could utter a word, Cena shut him down and began taking shots at him. The 16-time World Champion berated him for choosing the fans over The Rock's offer. He also added that he did not think he would be able to defeat Rhodes after he won the 2025 Men's Elimination Chamber.

However, Cena gained confidence that he could beat Rhodes after he chose not to sell his soul to The Rock and instead he joined forces with The Final Boss. John Cena concluded his statement by saying that at WrestleMania 41, he will take the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes, and he would never be able to be the man he is.

The American Nightmare chose not to back down against the verbal burying machine of WWE and fired right back at him. Rhodes called Cena "overrated", washed up, and mocked his physical shape. In doing so, Rhodes even said, "You're paler than Sting at Starrcade," taking a direct shot at his aging catching up. In the end, Rhodes made the final word by calling him an 'errand boy' for Hollywood people, referencing the time he came out naked at an award show.

Bruh Cody Rhodes cooked tf outta John Cena 😭😭😭 JESUS CHRIST THAT WAS COLD BLOODED #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/lq9pO4Exe3

— Public Enemies Podcast (@PublicEnemiesHQ) April 19, 2025

As the show was about to close, John Cena took a cheap shot at Rhodes and lifted him up to execute an AA. However, Rhodes countered his finisher and planted Cena with a Cross Rhodes. With the final statement made by Rhodes, it remains to be seen if he can stop the Cenation Leader at WrestleMania 41.

Also read: WWE SmackDown Results & Highlights (4/18/25): Cody Rhodes & John Cena's final face-off, Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner crowned and more