Elimination Chamber is often looked at as merely the stepping stone in between Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, but the events of last nights PLE changed everything.
I think you’d be hard pushed to find anybody not employed by WWE that can honestly say that they expected for things to unfold as they did to close off the night.
John Cena had just overcome Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Logan Paul, Seth Rollins and finally CM Punk in what was an barnburner of an elimination chamber match. Cena last eliminated Punk via submission using his STF hold following a stomp from an already eliminated but still irate Seth Rollins to win his last ever elimination chamber match.
Following the match “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes’ theme would hit and the WWE Champion would confront his newly confirmed WrestleMania 41 opponent in an intense stare down. The stare down would not last long before The Rock would would head to the ring accompanied by multiple time Grammy award nominated artist Travis Scott.
The Rock was there to ask Cody Rhodes to sell his soul and become his champion. The WWE champion had clearly put great thought into his decision and instead of making a deal with “The Final Boss”, Rhodes instead told the Hollywood mega star to “go f*** yourself” a comment which aired uncensored on the live broadcast.
John Cena would then embrace Cody only to betray the champion with a low blow, Cena was once again a heel after over 20 years, as what looked to be a career babyface run came to an end.
The final minutes of the event consisted of The Rock and John Cena beating down Cody Rhodes with Travis Scott watching on as the events unfolded.
The two Hollywood stars would then leave the face of the company bloodied in the ring being checked on by Michael Cole to close the show.
Cena’s heel turn is one of the biggest in wrestling history, alongside fellow former faces of the company such as “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns.
The shocking moment has huge implications for both WrestleMania 41 and John Cena’s retirement run. It seems that Cena will head into the showcase of the immortals as The Rock’s corporate champion and will probably result to desperate measures to try and clench a record breaking 17th World Title.
What is clear is that the road to WrestleMania has drastically changed and looks to be a truly special journey.
