When John Cena's 17th title reign could end, according to WWE legend Kurt Angle (Exclusive)

Modified Apr 15, 2025 13:22 GMT

John Cena is on the verge of making history [Image Credit: wwe.com]

John Cena will attempt to win a record-breaking 17th world title when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. In an exclusive interview, Kurt Angle predicted how his former in-ring rival could win and lose the gold.

Since 2017, Cena has held the record of 16 world title reigns alongside two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. If he beats Rhodes on April 20, the 47-year-old will surpass Flair's long-standing tally to become the outright record holder.

Angle told Sportskeeda Wrestling Senior Editor Bill Apter that he heard a rumor that Cena's final WWE show could be called Ruthless Aggression. According to the Olympic gold medallist, his legendary opponent should capture his 17th world title as a bad guy before losing as a babyface in his last match.

"It [title win] all depends on when they wanna turn him babyface," Angle said. "I think it's too early to turn him face right now, but they might end up doing it. Cena could end up winning the title and earning it, and not having to cheat. I don't know what's gonna go on at that point in time, but I think he's gonna continue to be a heel and I think he should have a heel run as the champion, and then eventually give it up at Ruthless Aggression. But I think somewhere along the line they need to turn him babyface." [4:38 – 5:10]

Watch the video above to hear Kurt Angle's take on why John Cena is destined to become a babyface even though he only recently underwent a character change.

Why John Cena turned heel

On March 1, John Cena became a bad guy for the first time in two decades after attacking Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber. He also unexpectedly joined forces with The Rock and rapper Travis Scott.

Since then, Cena has made it clear that the fans' "toxic" behavior forced him to turn to the dark side.

Expand Tweet

On the March 17 episode of RAW, the Hollywood star accused the audience of bullying him and described his relationship with them as "abusive." He also vowed to "ruin wrestling" by leaving WrestleMania 41 with the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.

About the author

Danny Hart is a journalist who has been reporting on pro wrestling (WWE) at Sportskeeda since 2017. He grew up as a massive fan of football/soccer and wrestling, leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism.

Before assuming his current role, Hart worked as a football writer at Goal.com between 2009 and 2016. He prides himself on writing original content that is fact-based and highly accurate. Hart thoroughly proofreads his work before submitting it and relies only on credible sources for information.

Hart’s favorite pro wrestler is The Undertaker. He admires the 2022 WWE Hall of Famer’s ability to reinvent his character and remain relevant across his decades-long career. If given the keys to WWE’s creative department, he would bring back The Phenom for a farewell bout against AJ Styles in a stadium full of fans. Not only that, but he would love to have the multi-time world champion’s greatest rivals seated at ringside for the spectacle.

When not watching and covering sports, Hart enjoys long-distance running, playing video games, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Know More

Edited by Danny Hart