WWE’s Cody Rhodes Reacts to Backlash of John Cena Calling Himself ‘Last Real Champion’

Cody Rhodes has no problem with John Cena continuing to use the “last real champion” moniker even though he’s no longer the undisputed WWE champion and has turned back to being a babyface.

Speaking to TMZ Sports (starts at :38 mark), Rhodes said he was “so excited” to be part of Cena’s final run before retirement and that “he can call himself the last real champ as long as I’m the actual champ.”

When Cena was a heel during the lead up to his match with Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, he vowed to retire as champion and take the belt with him.

The last real champion moniker became Cena’s go-to line, so much that WWE put out a line of t-shirts with it.

Even though Cena lost the title to Rhodes at SummerSlam and turned back into a babyface, WWE has continued to identify him as the last real champ. The ring announcers still use it to introduce him on television.

There has been some confusion, including from former WWE superstar Lance Storm, about why the company is still running with that moniker to identify Cena.

From a logic standpoint, it doesn’t really make sense. It was fine when Cena was a heel, but his whole identity as a babyface is built on hustle, loyalty and respect. That gimmick doesn’t really work if he’s undermining the current champion who beat him clean.

Of course, it’s also possible those shirts are selling well and WWE wants to keep making money off of it, so the decision was made to keep the slogan. It was reportedly the fourth-best selling shirt by WWE Shop in the month of June.

Even though the paths for Cena and Rhodes have diverged since SummerSlam, they both have big things ahead at WrestlePalooza on Saturday. Cena will square off with Brock Lesnar in the opener, while Rhodes will defend the undisputed WWE title against Drew McIntyre in the main event.