WWE Writer Revealed Behind Cody Rhodes’ Targeting John Cena
Cody Rhodes didn’t hold back on the April 11 episode of WWE SmackDown—and now we know who was behind every line.
According to Fightful Select, the man responsible for crafting the emotional in-ring segment was Michael Kirshenbaum, the WWE writer who laid out the powerful promo that had Cody laying into John Cena ahead of their WrestleMania 41 clash.
The segment kicked off the second hour of SmackDown inside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. Rhodes walked to the ring, which was lined with championship belts from across WWE’s past—symbolizing what’s at stake in his Undisputed Title match with Cena. As the crowd reacted with mixed energy, Cody called out Cena’s recent comments and no-show.
“John decided not to be in Seattle tonight,” Cody said to a loud chorus of boos. He then referenced Cena’s jab about Cody’s neck tattoo, saying “Cena said this tattoo makes me a common fan. Well, I don’t see anything wrong with being a fan. I want to be somebody.” He followed that by pointing to his sharp suits as a statement of pride, not ego.
Rhodes didn’t stop there. He made it clear that he thrives under pressure. “I do my best fighting when I’m backed into a corner,” he said, referencing how he stood up to both Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns in similar situations. He promised Cena a proper goodbye at WrestleMania—because “Cena knows his time is up, and until my time is up… I will remain champion.”
With the segment setting the tone for one of WrestleMania’s biggest matches, Kirshenbaum’s writing clearly hit the mark. It pushed the story forward while letting Cody remind everyone that he’s more than ready to defend what’s his.
Was this one of Cody’s strongest promos yet? And do you think John Cena has a real shot at dethroning him in Las Vegas? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to know how you see this one ending.
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