What Happened With John Cena After SmackDown Went Off Air
John Cena received massive cheers from fans after SmackDown went off air, despite being a heel. Full breakdown of Cena vs Cody ahead of SummerSlam 2025.
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SmackDown ended in chaos this week as Cody Rhodes brutally attacked John Cena during their SummerSlam 2025 contract signing segment — but what happened after the cameras stopped rolling took fans by surprise.
WWE Champion John Cena was laid out in the ring after Cody Rhodes sent him crashing through a table and forced him to sign their SummerSlam contract. While the segment confirmed Cena’s heel status, the post-show scene painted a different picture.
Fans Shower Cena With Love After SmackDown Ends
Once the show went off-air, the WWE Universe broke into a loud “Thank you, Cena” chant. Despite playing the villain on TV, Cena received a standing ovation as he slowly got to his feet and made his way backstage. The crowd’s reaction reflects their longing to see the 17-time world champion return to his fan-favorite babyface persona.
Cena vs Cody Set for SummerSlam 2025
The heated segment was part of the build-up to Cena vs Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2025, where the Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line. Cena, who shockingly turned heel earlier this year at Elimination Chamber 2025, aligned with The Rock and defeated Cody at WrestleMania 41 to become the record-breaking 17-time world champion.
Since then, Cena has been defending the title across his ongoing farewell tour, which now has just 14 dates remaining.
How Cody Earned the Title Shot
Cody Rhodes secured his rematch against Cena by winning the King of the Ring final at Night of Champions, defeating Randy Orton in a dramatic bout where he targeted Orton’s injured back. While he teased a heel turn during the match, Cody remains a babyface heading into SummerSlam — though that could change at the event.
SummerSlam 2025: WWE's First-Ever Two-Night Summer Classic
This year’s SummerSlam will be the first to span two nights, scheduled for August 2 and 3. The Cena-Rhodes clash is set to headline one of the nights, with CM Punk vs Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship confirmed as the main event of Night 1.
Fans expect Cody to regain the championship, potentially concluding his long-running rivalry with Cena — and perhaps marking a turning point in both their characters.
