fightful

Backstage News on Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena, Summerslam

Added 2025-08-03 18:53:08 +0000 UTC

Tonight's Summerslam Main Event is being kept very quiet internally.

While the match is unsurprisingly Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena, Cena's abrupt face turn caused many in the company and in wrestling fandom a surprise. It was the first time The Rock and Travis Scott's seemingly unplanned absences over the last number of months were addressed, even vaguely. Travis Scott had been planned to do more with the company earlier this year, but that didn't end up happening. We can't speak to the falling out reported elsewhere.

WWE Unreal cameras captured the heel turn of John Cena, but not the aftermath, which seems to have been adjusted with The Rock's absence. As of Sunday, people in WWE had not been informed of The Rock's involvement in Summerslam. Usually that ends up emerging by the day of, but WWE has been better about keeping things quiet of late.

Speaking of keeping things quiet, we're told the result and general happenings of the Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena are being kept very close to the vest. There are a number of writers and producers who have not been clued into the direction, by design.

John Cena will have nine publicly announced dates remaining on his WWE retirement tour after Summerslam, which includes a heavy August. He's scheduled for Smackdown episodes in Montreal, Ireland and France. As things stand, he is only scheduled for four more United States dates after Summerslam, but is planned for at least three more PLE shows through the end of the year, plus his retirement match. There are three unannounced dates.